What specific date marks the first flight of the Gloster E.28/39 powered by the Whittle W.1?
Answer
May 15, 1941
The pivotal moment demonstrating the practical success of Whittle's turbojet technology occurred in the spring of 1941. The engine, known as the Whittle W.1, provided the necessary thrust for the Gloster E.28/39 aircraft to take to the skies for its inaugural flight. This successful demonstration, which placed Britain months ahead of German counterparts in achieving this feat, is precisely dated to May 15, 1941. This event represented the practical realization of the continuous combustion principle that Whittle had patented nearly eleven years prior.

Related Questions
When did Frank Whittle file the patent for the turbojet engine concept?Which aircraft was powered by the Whittle W.1 engine on May 15, 1941?What type of compressor system characterized Frank Whittle's turbojet design?What compressor configuration did the competing engine developed by Frank Halford typically utilize?In what year did the government nationalize Power Jets Ltd., shifting control from Whittle?Which US company did Frank Whittle collaborate with in Lynn, Massachusetts, post-WWII?During which phase of his early career did Frank Whittle conceive the fundamental design for the turbojet engine?What status did Frank Whittle assume within Power Jets after the government nationalized the company in 1944?What specific date marks the first flight of the Gloster E.28/39 powered by the Whittle W.1?Where are the ashes of Sir Frank Whittle interred as a place of national reverence?