I am a software engineer, and while I understand what you’re getting at, the state of the industry in most consumer apps isn’t that much better, AFAIK.
I would argue Genetic Engineering. It’s still an emerging field, but it went from absolute zero experience or success to some pretty cool new stuff. If youre considering relative increase, it went from zero to something - infinity percent growth! 
I’d exclude “software engineering” because most professional programming doesn’t follow traditional engineering techniques. I’m voting for microelectronics as well. Computers are at least ten orders of magnitude faster today than they were 20 years ago – can any other engineering discipline claim that kind of progress?
There are a number of supersonic business jets in development as we speak, and at least one is likely to go into service within the next ten years. It is estimated that there could be a huge market for such jets.
The problems you are mentioning HAVE been solved. The sonic boom problem has been solved with aerodynamic tricks, and the efficiency problem is just a matter of cost. With a target market of the world’s plutocrats, efficiency is not a problem. The Concorde failed because it could only fly certain routes. A business jet without a sonic boom could fly anywhere at any time. Just the thing for the Bill Gates’s of the world.
After the bazillionares pay the development freight, we may see a commercial jetliner using the technology.
As far as the general developments in aerospace, some of the most advanced developments aren’t disclosed to the general public.
How about genetics ?
The ability to isolate certain sections as being responsible for various disorders is something.
Actually, I expect that molecular biology has yet to make its greatest impacts, and maybe its the next 25 years that’ll see the really major advancements.
:smack: