Showed Shuler03/31/14FocusThe Fighter PlaneThe fighter plane was a game changer in the aspect of warfare and technological advancements continued to make it an essential facet of the war. Over the past 100 years, the combat aircraft has evolved into a deadly, reliable and efficient machine. They went from shooting bullets through propellers to screaming through the sky at speeds in excess of 1,000 miles per hour! They went from face-to-face dogfights, close combat between military aircraft, to being able to fire missiles at targets they can't even see while still hitting them! Technological advances have made the combat aircraft an essential asset for any army. The combat aircraft has a long history and continues to evolve and it truly proved its necessity in combat during the years beginning with the First World War. Combat aircraft are important and technology has made them an essential factor for an army because without a powerful air force the chances of winning a war are very low. To understand why fighter jets are vital to an army, you need to know what they are. a fighter jet is. A fighter jet is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft. The distinguishing characteristics of a combat aircraft are its speed, maneuverability and size compared to other aircraft. One of the goals of a combat aircraft is to gain air superiority on the battlefield. Control of the skies became a critical factor in determining the outcome of the war. When an army has air superiority over the opposing side, it allows it to move more and carry out its operations with greater efficiency. Although the primary goal of a fighter jet is to take control of the skies, some planes can be mu...... middle of paper ...... Raptor and F-35 JSF."Contents. " House of history. Internet. April 4, 2012. “Centenary of Aviation.” ENA website. Internet. April 4, 2012. “The hypersonic era is near.” Popular science. Internet. April 5, 2012. “The Evolution of Combat Aircraft.” The company. Np, and Web. April 20, 2012. “SCRAMJETS.” The company. Np, and Web. April 19, 2012. .Clarke, M.. The Evolution of Military Aviation. NP, 2004. Web. April 19 2012.