The
Heinkel He 178 was the world's first
aircraft to fly under
turbojet power, and the first practical
jet aircraft. It was a private venture by the German
Heinkel company in accordance with director
Ernst Heinkel's emphasis on developing technology for high-speed flight. It first flew on 27 August 1939, piloted by
Erich Warsitz. This flight had been preceded by a short hop three days earlier.