The Boeing Company last week celebrated 100 years since its founding on July 15, 1916. Since starting out as a builder of wood and fabric floatplanes in a Seattle boathouse, Boeing has become the world’s largest aerospace company and leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners and defense, space and security systems. Headquartered in Chicago, Boeing employs approximately 160,000 people across the United States and in more than 65 countries. Total company revenues for 2015 were USD 96 billion.
“The innovative spirit of our founder Bill Boeing — who 100 years ago today dedicated this company to building something better — is alive in the generations of our people who continue to deliver products and services that matter and positively change lives around the world,” said Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Dennis Muilenburg. “As we embark on our second century, our commitment to excellence is stronger than ever, our potential for achievement is as great as it was for our founders, and our goals must be even more bold, visionary and inspiring.”
Boeing today represents a number of major companies that have merged over the past century, including McDonnell Aircraft, Douglas Aircraft, North American Aviation/Rockwell, Piasecki/Vertol, Howard Hughes’ helicopter and space companies, Stearman and The Boeing Company.
The legacy of those great aerospace companies reflects products such as the 7-series jets, including the first successful commercial jetliner, the 707; the Douglas DC jets, Douglas World Cruiser, C-47 Skytrain and A-4 Skyhawk; the North American B-25 Mitchell, P-51 Mustang, F-86 Sabre Jet, F-100 Super Sabre, B-1B Lancer and X-15; the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II, McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, C-17 Globemaster III and F/A-18 Hornet; the CH-47 Chinook, AH-64 Apache and V-22 Osprey; the B-17 Flying Fortress, B-29 Superfortress, B-47 Stratojet, B-52 Stratofortress and KC-135 Stratotanker; the Saturn and Delta rockets and Gemini, Mercury, Apollo, Space Shuttle and the International Space Station.
As the United States’ biggest manufacturing exporter, Boeing supports airlines and U.S. and allied government customers in more than 150 countries. Boeing products and tailored services include commercial and military aircraft, satellites, weapons, electronic and defense systems, launch systems, advanced information and communication systems, and performance-based logistics and training.
