The Rise of Jet Engines and Supersonic Flight
The evolution from piston engines to jet propulsion marks a notable moment in the history of aviation, significantly reducing travel times. By the late 1930s, the masters understood that propeller-driven aircraft were approaching a physical "ceiling." As the tips of the propeller approached the speed of sound, they encountered considerable drag and lost the ability to produce thrust effectively. As a result, aviation innovators such as Sir Frank Whittle in the UK and Hans von Ohain in Germany are credited with the development of the gas turbine engine. The operation of a jet engine is based on the principle of "suck, squeeze, bang, blow, drawing in air, compressing it, mixing it with fuel for ignition and then burning it at high velocities. This led to the first jet-powered flight of the Heinkel He 178 in the year 1939, which marked a revolution.