Jet: The Engine that Changed the World

The invention of the jet engine had a profound social effect on the world. Commercial jet aircract revolutionised travel, opening up every corner of the planet. Millions were able to travel anywhere in the world. Few know the jet engine was invented by an Englishman in 1929, with the first jet airliner being the British de Havilland Comet. Britain then gave the technology away, not only to the United States, but also to the Soviet Union. Jet engines came on the scene just when conventional piston engines had reached their physical limits. In a masterstroke of simplification, the jet engine replaced all the over-worked components with one moving part. The result delivered a smooth flow of power. The dream of cheap, exotic travel might have been realised, but there were downsides to the world-reaching power of aircraft. In 2020, the effects of had brought the aviation industry to a sudden halt. Taking a look at its history and how the world has changed since its invention, it is time to appraise the Age of the Jet. AUTHOR: Graham Hoyland is a best-selling author, mountaineer, sailor and producer and director of adventure films. He has worked on all seven continents for the BBC, Channel 4, Discovery, the Travel Channel and NBC, from the shores of Antarctica to the peaks of the Himalayas. His aviation works include Merlin: The Power Behind the Spitfire, Mosquito and Lancaster and now Jet: The Engine that Changed the World.