The Boeing Company is an American aerospace corporation, one of the three largest of its kind in the world, and an industry leader in the production of commercial jet carriers. The company, which was once known as Boeing Airplane Company, changed its name in 1961 to signify its development into sectors other than airplane manufacturing that began at the time.
The company’s headquarters were located in Seattle up to the year 2001, when they were moved to Chicago.
Boeing is also a leading manufacturer of:
- Military aircraft
- Helicopters and airplanes used for commercial travel
- Space vehicles and communications
- Aircraft and missiles used by the military
Let’s see what the company is all about in more detail.
Topics
About the Company
Boeing has a rich history of both leadership and invention in the aerospace industry. It’s continually broadening the scope of its product portfolio and services to satisfy the evolving requirements of its clientele.
The company is focused on:
- Designing, building, and integrating military platforms and defense systems;
- Designing, building, and integrating advanced technology solutions;
- Designing, building, and integrating new and more efficient members of its family of commercial airplanes.
The four divisions that make up Boeing’s corporate organization are:
- Commercial Airplanes
- Defense
- Space & Security
- and Boeing Global Services
Boeing Capital Corporation, a global provider of finance solutions, is responsible for providing support for these business divisions.
In addition, operational teams that operate throughout the company concentrate their efforts on:
- Program and engineering management
- Design and manufacturing systems
- Development-program and technology execution
- Finance, safety, quality, and productivity
- Information technology
More than 140,000 people in 65 different countries are employed by Boeing. Boeing also makes use of the expertise of thousands of additional skilled workers who are employed by Boeing’s suppliers located all over the world.
Company History
In the course of World War II, Boeing was a primary contributor to the nation’s aircraft production, and together with its business partners McDonnell Aircraft, Douglas Aircraft, the Hughes Aircraft Company, and North American Aviation, it collaborated to construct approximately 99,000 airlanes.
Boeing’s partners had various responsibilities, such as:
- McDonnell Aircraft was responsible for the production of aircraft parts;
- Douglas Aircraft was responsible for the production of the SBD Dauntless and the C-47 Skytrain;
- Hughes Aircraft Company was responsible for the production of various aircraft parts, including ammunition belts, rear fuselage, and wings;
- North American Aviation was responsible for the construction of the P-51 Mustang and the B-25 Mitchell.
These planes stood as a symbol of the military strength and inventiveness that the United States had at the time. After approximately 80 years in business, Boeing decided to end the Douglas Aircraft brand by incorporating the company into its Commercial Airplanes division and retiring the Douglas Aircraft trademark. By the time the 20th century came to a close, Boeing had completed the acquisition of each of these wartime associates and united their respective businesses.
William E. Boeing and Lieutenant George Conrad Westervelt formed a partnership and founded the Boeing Company. The first two aircraft they constructed were the B-10 bomber series and seaplane models named B&W.
Boeing formed the company in 1916, under the name Pacific Aero Products Co, changing its name the following year to Boeing Airplane Co. After the United States entered World War I, Boeing delivered two brand new Model Cs to Pensacola, Florida to serve the Navy for training purposes. The Navy was quite delighted and placed an order for an additional 50.
After WWI, when the production of aircraft significantly lowered, Boeing manufactured both bedroom furnishings and watercraft known as Sea Sleds. By 1929, Boeing had expanded its holdings to include the Stearman Aircraft Company in Wichita, which built engines and propellers. In addition, it operated airlines, managed airports, carried mail, and housed the Boeing School of Aeronautics, which educated pilots and mechanics.
After the introduction of Boeing’s line of monoplanes in 1930, the company’s biplanes were relegated to the status of showpieces. These monoplanes are:
- Monomail
- XP-9
- P-26 Peashooter
- Model 247 aircraft
- B-9 Flying Panatela
In 1934, the United States Army Corps was looking to purchase a heavy bomber with a long-range capability. The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was the company’s response.
After the start of World War II, the airplane industry shifted its focus from producing civilian aircraft to producing military aircraft. Production increased dramatically from 60 planes per month to 360. Additionally, in one massive effort, Boeing produced 16 planes in only 24 hours.
Following the conclusion of World War II, there was a shift away from the manufacturing of military aircraft and toward the production of civilian aircraft. Postwar achievements of the company in aircraft technology include the automation of planes.
Today, Boeing contributes to The National WWII Museum to uphold the history of the people who served in World War II.
Postwar, Boeing created:
- The B-47 jet bomber
- the now-famous B-52
- and the legendary B-52 aircraft
The technological advancements in those planes made it possible for Boeing to invest millions of dollars in the development of:
- A prototype passenger jet, the Model 367-80, also fondly referred to as the Dash 80
- KC-135 Stratotanker
- and a commercial aircraft, the Model 707-120, referred to as the Boeing 707
The Boeing 367-80 prototype, which was Boeing’s first airplane with a jet engine, was the precursor of the 707-120, and is considered to be the world’s first effective commercial jet plane.
Boeing Assembly Facilities
Where does Boeing manufacture their airplanes? Let’s have a peek at the final assembly facilities.
Even though the components that go into Boeing’s aircraft may originate from a wide variety of countries and regions, the company’s final assembly lines are all located in the United States, with the exception of a final site for the 737 that’s located in China. Not all of them are manufactured in the same location or by the same suppliers; thus, each facility has its own area of competence and specialized knowledge.
The primary manufacturing facilities of Boeing may be found in three distinct sites across the United States. The facilities in Everett and Renton can both be found in the state of Washington, while the third factory is in Charleston, South Carolina.
Products and Aircraft Types
- Commercial
Clients are offered a wide selection of Boeing aircraft that can be specifically tailored for the private, business, or governmental sectors, and Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) is responsible for bringing some of the best commercial aircraft into the domain of private air travel. When furnished for the private market, these airplanes deliver bigger, therefore more customizable space, endurance, and international service. Additionally, Boeing Business Jets usually feature an office, bedroom, bathroom, eating facilities, leisure rooms, and more.
Commercial Aircraft
- Next-Generation 737
- 737 MAX
- 747-8
- 767
- 777
- 777X
- 787
As part of the commercial aircraft are also Boeing cargo and private planes, so lets look at them separately.
Freighters
- 777-8 Freighter
- 747-8 Freighter
- 777-8 Freighter
- 777 Freighter
- 767-300 Freighter
- 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighter
- 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter
Boeing Business Jets (BBJ MAX Family)
- BBJ 737-7
- BBJ 737-8
- BBJ 737-9
- BBJ 787
- BBJ 777X
- Military
For today’s contemporary soldiers, Boeing provides innovative technology with strategically backed support systems. For more than a century, Boeing and its clients have been responsible for shaping the future of the aerospace and military industries – from the early days of flight to the highly advanced and interconnected systems that exist today. This reliable cooperation continues as clients in the military sector once again turn to Boeing for assistance in resolving their most demanding tasks.
Products
- AH-6 Light Attack Helicopter
- AH-64 Apache
- B-1B Lancer
- B-52
- C-17 Globemaster III
- C-40 Clipper
- CH-47 Chinook
- Chinook Block II
- F/A-18 Super Hornet
- EA-18G Growler
- F-15EX
- Advanced F-15
- KC-46A Pegasus Tanker
- MH-139
- MQ-25
- P-8
- Phantom Eye
- QF-16
- T-7A Red Hawk
- Unmanned Little Bird H-6U
- V-22 Osprey
- Weapons
Services
- A-10 Wing Replacement
- Airborne Early Warning & Control
- Airborne Warning & Control System
- Air Force One
- Airpower Teaming System
- Apache Longbow Crew Training System
- Autonomous Systems
- C-17 Training System
- Services and Support
- Future Vertical Lift
- Strategic Deterrence Systems
- Ground-based Midcourse Defense
- Integrated Live Virtual and Constructive Training
- P-8 Training
- Constant Resolution Visual System
- Directed Energy
- Space
When in 1961 John F. Kennedy announced to the world that the United States of America would land an astronaut on the lunar surface, Boeing’s president William M. Allen supplied 2,000 employees in charge of the Space division to NASA to orchestrate the project, including the Apollo Program. Boeing had a role in the development of the lunar satellites, which took photographs of the moon’s surface and sent them back to Earth so that NASA could select the most favorable landing places for the astronauts. Boeing was also responsible for the construction of the lunar rover vehicles that the astronauts utilized.
Moreover, Boeing was in charge of what was maybe the most important part of the entire project, the S-1C launcher for the Saturn V rocket, which was the vehicle that launched the astronauts into space. The launcher, which was the tallest ever constructed in the United States, was 138 feet tall and generated enough thrust to send a payload weighing 120 tons into the planet’s orbit. In 1973, it was also utilized to successfully launch Skylab into space.
Products Boeing Manufactures for the Space and Communications Industries
- The Delta series of launch vehicles,
- The Inertial Upper Stage (IUS),
- An in-space solid-rocket booster, and rocket engines for Delta launchers and other vehicles,
- Partnerships with the international Sea Launch Company and the Teledesic consortium, to develop a satellite-based, Internet-like telecommunications service,
- Satellites for the Navstar Global Positioning System (GPS).
Through United Space Alliance, a partnership with Lockheed Martin Corporation, the company is involved in the processing, ground operations, and training programs for the United States space shuttle fleet.
Products and Services
- Boeing Satellite Family
- International Space Station
- Space Launch System
- Gateway
- X-37B
- CST-100 Starliner
- United Launch Alliance
Most Famous Aircraft by the Company
Boeing 747
The four-engine Boeing 747, sometimes fondly referred to as the “Queen of the Skies,” was the world’s first wide-body airplane and the first “giant jet.” In 1970, the illustrious airline Pan Am was the first to put it into operation.
Specifications:
- Passengers: 149 passengers
- Wingspan: 112 ft 7 in;
- Full length: 110 ft 4 in;
- Material: All-metal, aluminum-alloy construction
- Launch date: 2/9/1997 (still in production)
Services
Boeing’s services bring together the company’s expertise in providing innovative solutions to clients in the civil, military, and space markets. This expertise is backed by a history of experience in the industry.
Boeing can deliver flexible and premium solutions to their clients, no matter the original engineering firm, with a focus on cutting-edge services in construction and digital aviation, as well as distribution network logistics and training support.
Services provided by Boeing are mainly divided into two groups: commercial and government services. Let’s see what they’re all about.
Commercial Services
- Engineering, modifications, and maintenance
- Supply chain
- Training solutions
- Digital solutions and analytics
- 24/7 customer support
Government Services
- Engineering, modifications, and maintenance
- Supply chain management
- Training solutions
- Digital solutions and analytics
- U.S. air force services
- U.S. army services
- U.S. navy and marine corps services
- U.S. special operations services
- 24/7 customer support
The Boeing Capital Corporation, known as BCC, is a premier provider of financial services to Boeing’s clients. BCC ensures that clients have access to the necessary funding to purchase and place orders for the Boeing products that they want to acquire.
Safety
Boeing is dedicated to enhancing safety practices via ongoing training and education as well as creative problem-solving. Employees from all parts of the company use strategies that are proactive, objective, and collaborative when it comes to all elements of product safety. Every worker is given the authority and the encouragement to voice any concerns they may have regarding the quality or safety of the work environment, regardless of the circumstances.
Every individual who works at or visits a Boeing site should be able to depart in the same state of safety and health that they were in when they came, and the Safety Guiding Principles offer a framework for achieving the objective of zero injuries on the job.
Go for Zero, Boeing’s workplace safety program, is a comprehensive approach to preventing illness or accidents at work and at home. This strategy stems from the concept that every injury is avoidable, and it’s based on the goal of achieving zero injuries.
Boeing’s internal compliance standards frequently surpass those mandated by government legislation since the company continuously identifies compliance gaps and measures progress in accordance with industry-standard procedures.
Innovations
Boeing is currently working on innovative projects. Their team is continuously working to improve how the company designs and manufactures its products, create a more effective operational system, and take steps toward enhancing its products’ environmental performance.
The company’s recent instances of innovation include:
- The maiden voyages of the 787-10, 737 MAX 9, and the T-X
- The introduction of Boeing AnalytX and Boeing HorizonX
Boeing wants to revolutionize the aerospace and defense industries, and they make substantial annual investments of more than $3 billion in research and development.
New Jet Category
Using the 707-120 aircraft, the American airline Pan American World Airways began service in 1958 on a New York to London route that included a refueling stop in Newfoundland. Pan American needed a plane that could perform a genuine non-stop transcontinental journey and cooperated with Boeing for a revamped version of the 707, which resulted in the construction of the 707-320.
This new model was able to fly non-stop between New York and London. This was the first time that an airline took the lead in defining the qualities of a new category of planes, and it was a historic moment. By 1960, a total of eleven different airlines were using the Boeing 707-320 in their fleets.
Use of a Plastic Composite Material
Composites are types of materials that are created by combining two different components. One option for achieving strength is to use fibers made of materials like glass or carbon. The other component is a resin-like epoxy that is used to bond the fibers together. When these two components are brought together in an environment of heat and pressure, a plastic substance that is durable, light, and resistant is the end result. Boeing made a transition away from metal and toward composites made of plastic.
In the 1950s, boats and automobiles like the Corvette were among the first to use of fiberglass, which was one of the earliest composite materials. The first time that Boeing used fiberglass was for the construction of the 707, and later on made a contract with NASA and did studies in the early 1980s on Boeing 737. Composites made up as much as 12 percent of the total weight of the plane’s structure. Additionally, the Boeing 777 was the first commercial passenger airplane to have its entire design created on a computer.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was the first commercial airplane to be made mostly of composite materials. The composite material is used in the construction of the outer airframe as a whole. That amount accounts for half of the overall weight of the construction.
Orbital Flight Test Evaluations Have Been Finished by NASA and Boeing
Following the conclusion of the investigation, the review team came up with a total of eighty recommendations that Boeing, in collaboration with NASA, is currently working to address.
Sustainability
Boeing’s products and services are conceived, constructed, and delivered with high levels of safety, quality, and integrity by diverse teams that appreciate the unique perspectives and experiences that each member brings to the table. Whether it’s discovering ways to cut down on their carbon footprint, ensuring the safety of their staff and passengers, obtaining their supplies in a responsible manner, or giving back to the communities, they always make sure that sustainability is a priority.
Conclusion
Boeing is a world leader in the aerospace industry, and as such, it designs, manufactures, and provides aftermarket support for commercial airplanes, defense equipment, and space systems for consumers in over 150 countries. The firm is one of the most successful exporters in the United States. The varied workforce at Boeing is dedicated to continuously inventing for tomorrow, leading the way with sustainability, and developing a culture that’s built on safety, efficiency, and trust.