7 MARCH 1981, Page 19

Sir Frank Whittle

Sir: Tony Rudd refers in his article 'Risky ventures' (21 February) to 'the late Sir Frank Whittle'. Sir Frank is alive and well and living in Columbia, Maryland. As a member of his original jet engine development team I saw him recently, and he is still active in his investigations into aircraft propulsion systems. The BBC recently interviewed Sir Frank for a television feature on his work which is to be shown on 15 May — the fortieth anniversary of the first British jet flight at Cranwell in the Gloster E28/39 Aircraft.

G.B.R. Feilden

2 Park Street, London W1