Jet Age
The period when jet-powered aircraft reshaped commercial and military aviation through faster travel, greater range, and new strategic capabilities.
Turbojet: A jet engine that compresses air, burns fuel, and produces thrust through a high-speed exhaust. Turbojets powered the first generation of commercial and military jet aircraft.
Frank Whittle: British engineer and Royal Air Force officer who developed an early practical turbojet design. His engine work helped establish the technical basis for British jet aviation.
Commercial aviation: The operation of aircraft to transport passengers or cargo for payment. Jet propulsion expanded airline capacity, speed, and the reach of scheduled travel.
Jet lag: A temporary mismatch between the body's internal clock and the local time after rapid travel across time zones. Long-distance jet flights made severe time-zone shifts common for travelers.
Propeller aircraft: An aircraft propelled by rotating blades that accelerate air, usually powered by a piston or turbine engine. Jets overtook propeller airliners in speed and range, though propeller aircraft remained efficient on short routes.
Turbofan: A jet engine whose fan moves air around the engine core as well as through it. High-bypass turbofans made later airliners quieter and more fuel-efficient.
Hans von Ohain: German engineer whose turbojet powered the Heinkel He 178, the first aircraft to fly under turbojet power. The He 178's 1939 flight demonstrated jet propulsion in an aircraft.
Military aviation: The use of aircraft by armed forces for combat, support, reconnaissance, and transport. Jet aircraft altered air defense, strike capability, and military competition.
Mass tourism: Large-scale travel by ordinary people, enabled by affordable transport and organized tourism services. Lower-cost jet travel helped turn overseas holidays into a mass-market activity.
Piston engine: An internal-combustion engine that uses moving pistons to produce mechanical power. Piston engines powered most pre-jet airliners and could not match jet cruising speeds.