Whyte, Robert Roger 1911

Robert R Whyte started at Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co Ltd as a Vacation Apprentice and College Apprentice between 1930 and 1935. He worked in the Mechanical Production Department and the Mechanical Department as an Assistant Superintendent, and became became Superintendent of the Gas Turbine Department in the late 1940s. Whyte eventually became responsible for building turbines of all types at Trafford Park. He was a member of the Manufacturing Sub-Committee of the Gas Turbine Collaboration Committee, set up in 1941 by the Ministry of Aircraft Production.

Whyte was awarded an MBE in 1948.

As well as presenting several papers on manufacturing, particularly of blades, to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, he edited two books, "Engineering Progress through Failure", and "Engineering Progress through Development", both published by the I. Mech. E., in 1975 and 1978 respectively. His work had brought him into regular contact with Dr D M Smith, FRS, who was highly respected for his work on the design of gas turbines, and when Dr Smith died, Whyte assisted with the preparation of the obituary for the Royal Society.

A new challenge presented by gas turbines was the manufacture of large numbers of compressor and turbine blades: axial compressors, as made by Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co Ltd, needed blades made to a higher precision and of more complex form than turbines, either gas-turbine turbines or the steam turbines which Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co Ltd had made for many years; gas-turbine turbine blades needed new high temperature materials which were more difficult to machine than steam turbine blades; the engines, particularly jet engines, would be made in much larger numbers than steam turbines had ever been. These needs led to the development of new machines and techniques by both engine makers and machine-tool makers.

Whyte took particular interest in blade manufacture and compiled a number of binders of information about their design and operation.

Whyte worked for Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co Ltd until 1970.