The jet engine may not seem that significant to most people today, but it is actually one of the most important engineering successes ever. The world as we know it would not be possible without this invention, because without it, you would not be able to travel across the world in hours and have access to the things we have now. The scenario in which the jet engine was created was characterized by the need for the jet engine, its constant evolution, and its rapid advancement. The characteristics are all important, as they all contribute to where the jet engine is today. 

The need for the innovation of the jet engine is one of the main characteristics as to why the jet engine is where it is today. WW2 was when the need for jet engines came into play. Being able to move faster than your adversaries was a huge advantage and fueled the need for the jet engine. The first versions of jet engines on fighter jets, such as the Me 262 developed by   German engine designer Anselm Franz, and the British-made Gloster Meteor, were not suitable for warfare, but were huge advancements from where jet engines were before, when they only existed in labs. This is also an example of how different people were able to build off of others' designs to make jet engines better.  

Building on the need for the jet engine is where the evolution of the jet engine begins. As WW2 continued, more countries started to build their own jet fighters until the end of the war, and everyone realized how much fuel these jets consumed. Pratt & Whitney resolved this dilemma in 1948 by combining two engines into one. This was a huge innovation because it led to the engines that commercial airliners used, such as Boeing. The jet engine had evolved from being built only for gas-guzzling jet fighters to being used for more fuel-efficient commercial airliners. This stands out as a significant turning point for the jet engine and other things it could be used for 

Evolution leads to the advancement of the jet engine and how it moves forward through constant evolution. Not only was the jet engine being improved on itself, but the plane around it was advancing as well, with computers being new technologies on planes in the 1950s. The advancements of the jet engine are why they are where they are today. The jet plane continued to get more fuel efficient, quieter, and faster. The advancements benefited everyone who used jet engines and even affected people who don’t directly use them. 

The jet engine is where it is today because of all the characteristics that shaped the innovation of the jet engine. Without the need for jet engines of warfare, we wouldn't have commercial airliners today. Without the evolution of the jet engine and people building off of the original invention of the jet engine, we would be using inefficient and slow jet engines. Without advancement, the jet engine would just stay on its current version, and better jet engines and the technology surrounding them would just become stagnant. All of these characteristics build on each other and are why the jet engine is such an engineering success.