One hundred years… that's exactly what the Boeing Company is celebrating, with the company having been founded on July 15, 1916… from exploring Earth and space, protecting and connection nations and people all over the world, Boeing has much to celebrate.
The company started as a builder of wood and fabric floatplanes in a Seattle boathouse. Since then, Boeing has become the world's largest aerospace company and a leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners and defense, space and security systems.
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.
Headquartered in Chicago, Boeing employs approximately 160,000 people across the United States and in more than 65 countries. The company also leverages the talents of hundreds of thousands more skilled people working for Boeing suppliers worldwide. Total company revenues for 2015 were $96 billion.
Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Dennis Muilenburg, said, "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. 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."
Among the ways Boeing is entering their second century:
- 100 Days of Learning: Kicking off immediately, this educational campaign aims to inspire the next generation of aerospace visionaries by providing teachers and students with free education resources that were co-created by Boeing engineers and leading educational content providers. (https://www.boeing.com/principles/education/100-days.page)
- Aircraft display: A lineup of Boeing's famous 7-series airplanes and a static display of historic aircraft will be part of the Founders Day weekend celebration for employees in Puget Sound, near the company's birthplace. Other highlights include a light show projected on the body of a 747 and a festival at the Museum of Flight.
- Above and Beyond: The global interactive flight and space education exhibition opens today in Nagoya, Japan, joining London and Seattle for concurrent engagements; since launching in July 2015, the exhibit has had nearly 3 million visitors. (https://aboveandbeyondexhibition.com)
- Age of Aerospace: The documentary series chronicles aerospace history through the evolution of Boeing and its heritage companies. Broadcast around the world and available in 18 languages, the series debuts today for the first time in France on Aerostar TV. (https://theageofaerospace.com)
- Centennial Experience pavilion: A special exhibition telling the innovation story of Boeing's past, present and future is open to the public at the Farnborough International Airshow this weekend outside London.
- Innovations app: The Boeing Innovations app, available in iTunes and Google Play, features Boeing products with interactive, 3-D models.
- NYSE bell ringing: Twenty employees will ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange at 9:30 a.m. Eastern. They represent the multiple generations of families who have worked at the company over the years.
To learn more about these activities, Boeing's centennial and ways to join in the celebration, visit Boeing100.com and search #Boeing100 on Twitter.
