 In
1936 the Heinkel aircraft factory was busy developing a rocket engine.
As a sideline, the company privately funded the development of a jet engine
as well. The S3 engine turned out to be a fairly flawless design and the
Heinkel He 178 was designed around it. Air intake for the engine was at
the front of the fuselage through a channel under the pilot’s seat. Whereas
early prototypes had conventional piston engines to test flying capabilities,
the final prototype’s maiden flight on jet engines took place on august
27th, 1939, this date being the beginning of the jet age.
 Compared
to conventional piston engines the jet proved to be much faster. However,
the military did not display increased interest at the outbreak of WWII,
so regular jet aircraft (like the Me 262, Arado 234) were put into production
only at a much later date. The only flying prototype was lost to bombs
in 1943.
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