No wonder, without continuing development.GeoModder wrote:The Messerschmidt 262 definitely was a game-breaker in air warfare because of its speed and some other flying aspects. And the first in reliable operation.
But only a few years later jets from other nations surpassed it.
Ah, now i get it.GeoModder wrote:So what I mean to ask is, is there a German term for a cutting-edge system/object, that only shines for a short term before it is surpassed by others?
But no, there is no special genuine or slang word for those things.
We call forerunners or trailblazers like this "Wegbereiter", but this word can be applied to a lot of things, cars e.g., the Audi Quattro was a "Wegbereiter".
"Weg" means "way" and "Bereiter" in this sense/translation can roughly be translated as the first who were where no one was before; like a pioneer, but a bit different, a bit better, or say: in a more abstract way in the sense that a pioneer or scout just finds a way and reports about it, while a "Wegbereiter" furthermore is a source of inspiration (Jeez, i´m struggling with words...).
But you can also use this word for non-tech related things like music, e.g. Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Motörhead were the forerunners/Wegbereiter for the NWOBHM.
HTH.