The Machines That Made The Jet Age

Wait a minute. What about the Brits development of RADAR? What about US development of the Norden bomb sight? And of course, the development of the atomic bomb which would have been used in Europe had the Germans not surrendered. (?)

The article claims that stamping metal, allowing the development of the jet, is a superior technology to these examples? Useful, yes. Powerful, yes. Technologically superior, no.

As for the atomic bomb, which side would have used it in Europe? The Germans had their own atomic weapons program that was fairly advanced. Some stories claim that they actually had a cold shot similar to what North Korea had a year or so ago. If Hitler had achieved the atomic bomb, there can be no doubt that he would have used it.

Your argument supports Usbport's assertion that the Allies, led by the US, got there first.

The Germans had a device analagous to RADAR - can't remember any details, just that it had a very different principle to radar in terms of sender and receiver positioning.

Frank Whittle?
Del

Ah, yes. That jogged my memory. I watched a documentary a year or two ago about the jet engine prior to, and during, WWII and the show (BBC/Nova?) discussed his work.

I should hope so. All the US stuff is based on it...

Also "Goddard" who pioneered liquid fueled rockets.

oilcan13

I was trying to remember the dates of his breakthroughs...I really should know, living in Bomber County and having had my photo in local paper next to the original Whittle Engine last month.

<ER goes to sit on the naughty step and read her "History of the Jet Engine" text book>

Hmmm....He graduated from Cambridge with Honours after two years in 1938...and had already started on a jet design. All his work was shared pro bono with the US (I don't think we even got a reduction on the ol' Lend-Lease account...for which we are still paying)

No no no ... I think we paid off the last few $ billion in 2006.
Del

(inflamatory post edited by Del)

Oops! You're right and it's our debts from World War ONE that we still have outstanding!

(Don't talk to me about inflammatory: the RA's playing up, I can hardly move my back and I'm allergic to anti-inflammatories!)