rolls royce started making jet engines for world war ii in 1914.
when did rolls royce start making jet engines for world war ii?
1914
bth had a major role in developing the world's first prototype jet engine, which was built by frank whittle's power jets company built at the bth works in rugby in 1937. development was later moved to the lutterworth works, which were falling into disuse at the time. bth's directors seemed skeptical of the design and offered little help, and in 1940 decided they were not really interested in making jet engines due to their commitment to electrical equipment. rover was soon selected to make jet engines, but exchanged jet engine production with rolls-royce for making tank engines in 1943. in 1944 the lutterworth power jets work was nationalised.
british thomson-houston
rolls royce plc is a large employer based in the town. it was originally a cotton mill that rover used to produce the production version of whittles gas turbine and was purchased by rolls royce in 1943. the model number of many rolls royce jet engines start with the initials rb (e.g. rb199) which stands for rolls barnoldswick, as rolls royce aero's design centre was situated in barnoldswick.
barnoldswick