Transition to the Jet Age

You’re not a plane expert, but you see differences in planes. You can tell the Wright Flyer (c. 1903) from a World War II plane (c. 1939-1945) from a modern plane (c. 1947 onwards). Don’t believe me? Take the quiz [Here is a link to a quiz]. You’re not psychic, you’re responding to differences in the wings, engines, size, etc. Planes from the same age look similar (but not the same) because they’re designed with similar technology. It’s the same with people: you can tell if a person is a kid or an adult, even if you mistake a 12 year-old with a 13 year-old or a 35 year-old with a 40 year-old. WWII planes are kids; modern planes are adults.

In humans, all of the changes (height, surprising hair, glands) are side effects of increased hormone (testosterone or estrogen) development. In planes, all the changes are side effects of one technological improvement: the jet engine. This more powerful powerplant made planes faster, sleeker, bigger, and more comfortable.

We’re going to look at two planes (the B-17 and the B-47) made in the same country (America) by the same company (Boeing) for the same purpose (Strategic Bomber), only 12 years apart (1935 vs. 1947). But the B-17 is a kid and the B-47 is an adult not fundamentally different from the planes we fly in today. They are the endpoints of the Transition to the Jet Age, a.k.a. Plane Puberty.