When Boeing is Dreaming – a Review

Abstract

Boeing is an aeronautical and aerospace manufacturer. Its head office is located in Chicago, Illinois. Its two largest plants are located in Wichita, Kansas and Everett, near Seattle. This aircraft manufacturer specializes in the design of civil aircraft, but also in military aircraft, helicopters and in satellites and rockets with its Boeing Defense, Space and Security division. In 2012, it ranks second in world military equipment sales. The company was born on July 15, 1916, thanks to its two fathers William E. Boeing and George Conrad Westervelt and is named "B and W". Shortly afterwards, his name became "Pacific Aero Products" and finally "Boeing Airplane Company". In 1938, Boeing commissioned the 307 Stratoliner; It was the first airplane with pressurized cabin; He was able to fly at a cruising altitude of 20,000 feet, so above most weather disturbances, making him the strongest aircraft in the Boeing fleet. In response to the concentration move in the US defense industry initiated by its competitor Lockheed in 1995, Boeing acquired Rockwell International's space and defense operations in August 1996 for $3.2 billion. Rockwell was the manufacturer of the seven US space shuttles (Enterprise, Pathfinder, Columbia, Atlantis, Endeavor, Discovery and Challenger). Then, Boeing bought the number two defense equipment behind Lockheed Martin that is McDonnell Douglas, for $13 billion in August 1997. McDonnell Douglas was the manufacturer of the Delta launchers. In 1999, the Boeing aircraft manufacturer sold 620 aircraft; in 2004, deliveries fell to 285 aircraft. It is now overtaken by its European competitor Airbus in orders since 2002 and in deliveries since 2004 (Source: Le Monde, 13 June 2005). In 2005, in a record market, the company announces 1,005 orders (of which 569 B737, 235 B787 and 154 B777) surpassed again by Airbus of about fifty aircraft. Boeing became the world's first aircraft manufacturer in 2006 with 1,044 orders versus 824 for Airbus. In 2008, Boeing is the world leader in the defense sector. In November 2016, Boeing announced a restructuring of its defense arm with the suppression of 500 positions, the closure of two plants in El Paso and Newington and the displacement of 2,000 employees.