Gas turbine technology gave birth to the turbojet engine during the 1940s, ushering in the jet age. Paralleling turbojet development, the fledgling rocket engine was ready to make a grandiose debut. But aeronautical advances weren’t limited to propulsion technology — the time was also right for incorporating a swept wing into a full-scale aircraft. The Douglas D-558-1 Skystreak, D- 558-2 Skyrocket, and X-3 Stiletto were among the first aircraft to blend airframe to powerplant in ways that would set the standard for many modern-day aircraft designs. These aircraft were at the forefront of a renaissance in aeronautical discovery, the likes of which have not been seen since.