| A jet airline is simply termed from the propulsion of a | | | | jumbo jets are large cities in the sky. They provide |
| jet engine rather than older model propeller type | | | | multiple decks containing amenities to help weary |
| planes. Jets also achieve maximum efficiency at | | | | travelers through long flights. |
| higher altitudes rather than propeller models. History | | | | Modern jets cruise at speeds almost the same as |
| of how the jet airliner came into existence is an | | | | sound. The term "mach" is used to measure the |
| interesting background that explains how jets have | | | | speed of jets. Sound travels at approximately 420 to |
| come to be the most popular form of quick, long | | | | 580 miles per hour. The speed of jets is denoted by |
| distance travel. | | | | the percentage of the speed of sound. Most jets |
| The jet prototype was first laid out in writing by | | | | travel at .75 to .85 mach, or more specifically 75% to |
| Frank Whittle of Britain. He was an officer in the | | | | 85% that of the speed of sound. Interestingly, jets |
| British Air Force and proposed his idea to superiors. | | | | that travel faster than sound are seen before they |
| The idea did not come into play until the late 1930's | | | | are heard. |
| when the Germans took off on the idea of jets and | | | | The fastest jet to date is NASA's unmanned X-43. |
| jet propulsion. The British later recognized the idea as | | | | With mach speed of 9 to 10, this black bullet |
| beneficial to war efforts and designed their first | | | | traveling at hypersonic speeds is appropriately named |
| model in 1941. | | | | scramjet. Its initial goal was to achieve speeds |
| It was the Germans who first brought an operational | | | | greater than mach 7. The goal was well exceeded in |
| model, called the Messerschmitt Me 262, into the air. | | | | 2001 when its first flight was launched at mach 9. |
| It was introduced during World War II as a turbo jet | | | | Finally, one of the most notable jets to date is |
| for fighting, bombing, and interception of enemy | | | | NASA's space shuttle. This jet's engine exemplifies |
| aircraft. Soon thereafter, the Germans improved on | | | | technology by propelling men into space. The power |
| their technology and introduced a faster, rocket | | | | needed to push such a large, massive jet into space |
| fueled jet named the Messerschmitt Me 163. | | | | is astronomical. The solid rocket boosters of the |
| Throughout the years, British, Germans, and | | | | space shuttle jet provide twelve million Newtons of |
| Americans have improved on jet technology. Jets | | | | thrust at liftoff. A unique advantage to these |
| have become a main source of transportation for | | | | boosters is that they are reusable. Once the space |
| traveler needs. Commercial jets allow for | | | | shuttle jet has been propelled into a high altitude, |
| transportation to different continents within hours. | | | | they drop off the jet, deploy parachutes, and safely |
| Don't want to drive a few hours to a neighboring | | | | land into the ocean where NASA recovers them for |
| city? Hop on a jet to get you to your destination in | | | | use in future space missions. |
| merely an hour or two. Commercial jets such as | | | | |