"Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle, 'father of the jet engine', at his desk." Portrait of Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle at his desk. During 1943 to 1946 Air Commodore Whittle was attached to Power Jets Ltd for the development of the Aircraft Gas Turbine for Jet Propulsion. Known as the 'father of the jet engine', the prototype of which was 'bench run' in 1937. The models on his desk are the first British prototype jet aircraft to fly and of the Meteor, the first jet to enter service with the RAF.