Introduction To Aviation
The Emergence Of Jet Aviation
The Emergence Of Jet Aviation
The jet engine was invented by Frank Whittle in 1930,
but the first turbojet-powered aircraft, the Heinkel 178, was
German-made and flew on 27 August, 1939.
The first production jet fighter was also German, the
Messerschmitts Me 262, and flew in June,
1942. This was powered by two turbojets and capable of a top speed
of 864 km/hr(540 mph). The first British-built jet was the Gloster
Meteor, and flew in March 1943, while the Lockheed Shooting
Star was America's first jet.
The pilots of the World War II, who flew propellor
planes, had one major complaint to make very often during flight.
When the flew the fastest and then went in a diving action, their
planes gained more speed, and nearly reached the speed of sound.
However at these speed, the plane used to rattle and shake
violently, often making the pilot lose control. This was dubbed by
scientists as the "Sonic Barrier" and many felt it was impossible
to over come this. They thought that the maximum speed attainable
by a plane was only uptil the speed of sound.
They were very much wrong.
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