The Whittle Arch: Coventry’s Tribute to a Jet Engine Pioneer
The Whittle Arch is a striking modern monument located at the heart of Coventry, right in front of the Coventry Transport Museum. This impressive structure consists of two steel arches, each with spans of approximately 60 meters, leaning towards each other and converging at a point 15 meters above the ground. The arch is made of steel tubes and is covered with a mesh that has small holes in it. This mesh is shaped like an aerofoil—a design that mirrors the aerodynamic principles behind aircraft wings. The design mimics the way airplane wings are built to cut through the air smoothly, using the same idea that helps planes fly easily.This feature also allows an internal lighting system to illuminate the arch at night, giving it a distinctive and futuristic glow. The arch is named in honor of Sir Frank Whittle (1907-1996), a Coventry-born engineer who is widely credited with inventing the turbojet engine, revolutionizing aviation. Beneath the arch stands a bronze statue of Whittle, depict