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, depicted in his Royal Air Force (RAF) uniform, as if watching the first test flight of the Gloster E.28/39—powered by his revolutionary engine—take off in 1941. (You can read my article about this statue here.)

The Whittle Arch was completed in 2004 as part of the Phoenix Project, a major urban regeneration initiative aimed at revitalizing Coventry's city center for the new millennium. The arch and the statue together form a lasting tribute to one of Coventry's most famous sons and his transformative contributions to aviation.

This monument not only celebrates the life and achievements of Sir Frank Whittle but also serves as a symbol of Coventry’s rich industrial and engineering heritage.

Happy travelling.