BIRTH OF THE AMERICAN JET AGE

摘要

The fires of World War Ⅱ forged many of the technological advances that have transformed our world in the more than half century since. One of the most important was the development of the gas turbine, or jet engine—a development usually associated with Germany. This is largely because various German jet aircraft (along with one almost forgotten British jet fighter) actually flew combat missions during the war. And there is no denying the appeal of many of the German designs, especially the sleek and deadly Messerschmitt Me-262. Almost unknown by comparison, but arguably more important to the future of aviation, were the jets developed in the United States during the war. Although no American jet actually saw combat in the conflict, the United States was responsible for initiating more jet fighter designs at that time than any other nation save Germany. Unlike the Luftwaffe's projects, which were usually intended to be futuristic, war-winning "wonder weapons" but frequently fell far short of hoped-for capabilities, American jet projects were almost invariably more practical and effective. The experience gained in their design and production laid the foundation for the creation of today's most advanced combat aircraft.