The development of jet propulsion is considered by many to be the greatest advance in aviation since the first flight of the Wright brothers.
Frank Whittle of Britain operated his turbojet engine with success on April 12, 1937, but it was not until August 27, 1939, that the world's first jet plane, built by the Germans, was flown.
On May 15, 1941, the first British jet was flown. It was powered by a 860 pound-thrust Whittle turbojet.
The Bell Airacomet was America's first jet plane. It flew on October 1, 1942.
It was Britain that led the world in the development of jet propulsion after the end of World War II. Less than four years after the War, Britain was flying the de-Havilland Comet, powered by four turbojets and the Viscount, powered by four turboprops. The passengers received a smoother flight and also a shorter ride due to a higher cruising altitude and increased speeds. The jets could now climb above most of the turbulent weather.
The Soviet Tupolev TU-104 was in wide use during the latter months of 1958, and America's Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8 aeroplanes soon were transporting passengers across the Atlantic.
Mass travel became so popular that aircraft designers increased the size of many passenger aeroplanes, and even larger ones are being planned. At present up to 490 passengers can ride in the Boeing 747s. Other wide-body aircraft include the MC Donnel Douglas DC-10 and the Lockheed 1011.
The aircraft industries of Britain and France have produced a supersonic airliner capable of speeds up to 1450 mph. If one goes by the clock, passengers on the Concorde could land in America before they took off in Europe.
3. Find in the text some adjectives and adverbs in the Comparative or the Superlative degree:
a) Give their Positive Degree
b) Give their opposite meaning
4. Answer the questions to the text:
a) What is considered by many to be the greatest advance in aviation since the first flight of the Wright brothers?
b) When was the world's first jet plane flown?
c) What was the first British jet plane?
d) When did the America’s first jet plane fly?
e) What other jet planes are mentioned in this text?
f) What wide-body aircraft do you know?
g) How is it possible to land in America before you take off in Europe?
5. Which of these remarks are true?
a) On May 15, 1941, the first British jet was flown.
b) Hallivand Comet was America's first jet plane.
c) It was the USA that led the world in the development of jet propulsion after the end of World War II.
d) The Soviet Tupolev TU-104 was in wide use during the latter months of 1958.
e) At present up to 390 passengers can ride in the Boeing 747s.
f) The aircraft industries of Britain and France have produced a supersonic airliner Concorde.
6. See the sentence from the text:
It was Britain that led the world in the development of jet propulsion after the end of World War II.
Complete the sentences using the same structure
| It was | the Wright brothers | who... |
| Frank Whittle Germany | that... | |
| a 860 pound-thrust Whittle turbojet | ||
| de Havilland Comet | ||
| the Viscount | ||
| the Soviet Tupolev 104 | ||
| America's Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8 | ||
| Britain and France passengers |
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