jetage

Jet age is the era in aviation characterized by the widespread use of jet propulsion in aircraft, starting in the mid-20th century and continuing into the present day. Jet engines, initially turbojets, offered higher speeds and greater thrust than piston engines, enabling new flight regimes and network patterns.

The conceptual and experimental work began in the 1930s and 1940s. The first fully jet-powered aircraft to fly was the German Heinkel He 178 in 1939, followed by further designs in the German and British programs during World War II. After the war, jet propulsion rapidly moved into military and civil aviation. In the early 1950s, jet airliners emerged, with the De Havilland Comet entering service in 1952 as the first commercial jet airliner, and the Boeing 707 entering service in 1958, establishing jet travel as the norm.

The jet age expanded with long-range routes, faster intercontinental services, and the development of turbofan engines that improved efficiency and range. Subsonic airliners, such as the Boeing 727, 737, and Airbus A300 family, became the backbone of air transport. In 1969, supersonic transport became a public symbol of the jet age with the Concorde prototype entering service in 1976, though it remained a limited and costly service.

Impact includes faster travel, globalized business, and changes to aircraft design, airport operations, and regulation. Environmental concerns and noise emerged as major considerations. Today, the jet age endures through modern turbofan-powered airliners and ongoing research into efficiency, sustainability, and potential high-speed transports.