What contribution to flight does the jet engine have?

Answer 1

The jet engine creates thrust, which, in a sense, pushes the plane forward which forces air over the wing. Because of the shape of the wing (smooth on the bottom, rounded over the top) and with enough thrust, from the engines, the plane will move fast enough to generate a lifting force.

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In the annals of aviation, the jet engine's contribution is twofold.

A plane with turbojet or turbofan engines can fly higher and faster than a plane with engines that turn propellers. A jet airliner can fly above the weather, where the air is smoother (which gives the paying passengers a more comfortable ride, and makes them happier), and it can get to the destination airport faster (which, once again, makes the paying passengers happier).

Also, a jet engine is more powerful than a piston engine. This extra power allows the airplane designer to put larger fuel tanks in the plane, which gives the range to, say, fly from New York to LA without stopping rather than having to fly to Denver, then St. Louis and finally into New York. In transatlantic service, a jet airliner can fly from New York to London nonstop; prop airliners made stops in Newfoundland and Greenland when flying the same route. Not having to get on and off the plane repeatedly also makes the paying passengers happier.