the jet age
During the 1940's, engineers improved the crude jet engines built during World War II, and by the Korean War (1950-1953) both the Soviet Union and the United States had highly effective jet planes. But it was Great Britain's engineers who produced the world's first large commercial jet airliner. By the mid 1950's, U.S. engineers were also designing commercial jet airliners. In 1958, the Boeing 707, a four engine jetliner, began passenger service between the United States and Europe. The world's first commercial jumbo jet, the Boeing 747, began service in 1970. It could carry nearly 500 passengers. Fighter, bomber, and attack jet aircraft were also being developed that increased the effectiveness of airplanes as a weapon of war.
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