In June 1939, the Air Ministry was finally convinced of the merits of Whittle' invention. They then decided to have a flight engine built (the W.1) and have the Gloster Aircraft Company build an experimental airplane - the E28/39.
The aircraft was completed in March 1941 and the engine in May 1941. First flight of the E28/39 occured on the evening of May 15, 1941.
Below: Frank Whittle's Gloster E28/39 jet aircraft,
first flown in May 1941.
Below: The first jet aircraft was the German made
Heinkel He-178 which flew for the first time on
August 27, 1939.

