On August 27, 1939, the Heinkel He 178 became the first aircraft to fly under turbojet power, a revolutionary development in aviation technology. This German aircraft, piloted by Erich Warsitz, marked the birth of the jet age. The development of the jet engine was one of the most significant technological leaps in aviation, completely transforming speed, altitude, and military capability.

The arrival of the jet age was seen by many poets and writers as a symbol of a new, faster, and more modern era, often associated with a sense of alienation and acceleration in literature. It pushed the boundaries of the sublime and the terrifying, inspiring poetry that grappled with the extreme speeds and new dimensions of human experience. The sound and speed of jets became a metaphor for the modern condition.