Boeing: aircraft manufacturer

Boeing is an American aircraft manufacturer. The aerospace group is one of the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers, along with Airbus, Dassault and Bombardier. The aerospace company was founded in Seattle in the United States in 1916 by William Edward Boeing, an aviator and entrepreneur. Boeing designs and manufactures a wide range of aircraft, including defence, military and space aircraft, as well as civil aircraft and a variety of aeronautical equipment. Let’s take a look back at the history and actions of this company, a true pioneer in the world of aviation.

Boeing today

A few figures:

The Boeing group is present in more than 150 countries and has 150,000 employees. The aircraft manufacturer’s turnover in 2021 Boeing is The group is structured around different activities

• commercial aviation
• defence
• space and security
• global services

Boeing: a committed company

Boeing is committed! The aircraft manufacturer takes its responsibilities seriously and invests in various actions

• corporate citizenship : each country, as part of Boeing Global Engagement, selects an area of commitment in which the company will invest, locally, by supporting a cause or initiative. In France, for example, the company supports the Léo Lagrange Federation. The aim is to support initiatives or the development of education programmes.
• social : the Boeing Group attaches great importance to equal opportunities within its workforce. The group advocates diversity, a core value of the Boeing company. Every year, Boeing is on the lookout for new talent.
• environmental : Boeing has entered into partnerships with various players to work on reducing the company’s ecological impact. For example, the company reduces landfill waste by 910 tonnes of carbon fibre each year. The Boeing group is also working on the development of a sustainable fuel based on desert plants.

History of the aircraft manufacturer Boeing

The creation and beginnings of the Boeing aircraft manufacturer from 1916 to 1930:

• 15 July 1916 : the Boeing Aerospace Company was founded by two employees, William Edward Boeing and George Conrad. The company was originally called B&W but soon adopted the name Boeing Airplane Company.
• 1917 : Against the backdrop of a world war, the United States and the Navy needed to procure military aircraft to create a solid and efficient patrol. This was the first order for the American aeronautical company, which had to deliver no fewer than 50 Model C seaplanes ordered for the US army’s air patrol training.
• 1923 : The American aircraft manufacturer manufactures an aircraft for postal transport. From 1927 onwards, the Model 40A was used on the regular route between Chicago and San Francisco.
• Late 1920s: the company decided to start designing passenger aircraft. This led to the creation ofBoeing Air Transport. The first passenger aircraft, the Model 80 in particular, were manufactured at the same time, and Boeing gradually joined forces with a number of companies specialising in the manufacture of aircraft and related parts such as engines. Boeing also approached airlines with whom it thought it could fly its aircraft.
• 1929: Boeing changes its name to : United Aircraft and Transport Corporation.

The creation and beginnings of Boeing from 1930 to 1955:

• 1934: Boeing takes over and manages many sectors of the aviation business. As well as manufacturing aircraft and engines, the company Boeing also had a role in airports and airlines. At the time, the company’s flight hours were skyrocketing. However, a law was passed prohibiting aircraft manufacturers from operating airlines. The Boeing Company was divided into 3 subsidiaries to carry out its various missions separately.
• 1938 : following a partnership with an American airline (Pan American World Airways), the aircraft manufacturer Boeing manufactures an aeroplane so that it can fly both intercontinental and transatlantic routes. The company then decided to modernise its fleet and launched the Boeing 314 Clipper, which made its first test flight in June this year. This was the most important civil aircraft of its time. During this period, Boeing also launched its 307 Stratoliner model. This aircraft was able to fly at a higher altitude, limiting the influence of the weather on these flights and increasing air safety. It was also one of the first aircraft to have a pressurised cabin.
• 1939 – 1945: During the Second World War, Boeing returned to the service of the US Air Force, producing B-17 Flying bomber models for combat aviation.
• 1955: Building on its success in the United States, Boeing attracts non-American airlines, notably Air France. It became one of France’s leading airlines. Air France was the first airline outside the United States to order an aircraft, a Boeing 707. Called the “Château de Versailles”, it made its first test flights in 1957 with a full crew.

The Boeing story after the 90s

• 1996 – 1997 : Boosted by the development of the aeronautics and aerospace sector, particularly in the field of American defence, Boeing bought several companies with large fleets of aircraft. For 3.2 billion dollars, the American aircraft manufacturer bought Rockwell International, a company specialising in the defence and space markets. Boeing then acquired McDonnell Douglas for 13 billion dollars. At the time, McDonnell Douglas was one of the leading manufacturers of defence equipment for the fighter industry.
• 2002 : with several orders for Boeing aircraft from France (by Air France and the French army, for example), the company decides to open new premises in Paris, called Boeing France.
• 2004 : after a period of high numbers of aircraft ordered (620 in 1999, for example), Boeing saw a significant drop in the number of orders and therefore in aircraft deliveries. Boeing was overtaken by one of its main competitors: Airbus: Airbus. It will overtake Airbus again in 2006, with nearly 200 more orders for Boeing.
• 2005: Boeing is back on track, with 1,005 orders booked that year. Most of these orders were for flagship models such as
  • the Boeing 737
  • the Boeing 787
  • the Boeing 777

At the end of that year, the company had no fewer than 1,809 orders for aircraft to be delivered over the following 7 years

• 2009: Boeing records a 28% increase in aircraft deliveries over the previous year, with a total of 481 commercial aircraft delivered.
• 2010: Air France records a total of 200 Boeing aircraft in its fleet.

The history of Boeing in recent years

• 2011 : after several aircraft orders from China, the pace picks up. Now it’s the turn of the United Arab Emirates, with the airline Emirates, to order aircraft. They are requesting the production of 50 Boeing 777s, long-haul aircraft of the “large aircraft” type, for the sum of 18 billion dollars. Shortly afterwards, Lion Air, an Indonesian airline, ordered 230 Boeing 737 medium-haul aircraft for 22 billion dollars.
• 2014 was a record year in the history of the American aircraft manufacturer. The company booked 1,432 orders and delivered 723 aircraft.
• 2016: Air France acquires
  • its first Boeing 787
  • a 70th Boeing 777 as a refuelling aircraft for its fleet.
• 2017: Boeing joins forces with Dassault Systèmes. Together, they sign a contract worth one billion dollars over a period of 30 years. Dassault is contributing its 3Dexperience software. This allows Boeing to fully investigate aeronautical issues and improve their aircraft production system.
• 2019: following 2 accidents involving Boeing 737 Max aircraft, certain countries and airlines suspend the ability of these aircraft models to fly. Some airlines with several aircraft of this type in their fleets demand damages and repairs from the manufacturer. The company will comply, while providing financial compensation to the families of the victims of these two crashes.
• 2020 : the Covid 19 health crisis has a major impact on the airline industry. In the wake of the coronavirus crisis, Boeing is forced to limit its workforce. The aeronautical company cut more and more jobs, reducing its workforce to 130,000 (compared with 160,000 before the crisis). The same applies to the company’s turnover, which has fallen by 12.8 billion dollars compared to 2019. In the same year, the suspensions against the Boeing 737 max aircraft are gradually lifted.
• 2021: this year’s balance sheet stands at a delivery of 340 aircraft for Boeing – a low-lying result for the company.

Boeing key figures

To date, Boeing’s head office is in Chicago. The company’s CEO is Dave Calhoun. Boeing is also characterised by the following figures:

• 150,000: the number of people employed by the aerospace giant.
• 65: the number of countries in which the aircraft manufacturer operates.
• 150: the number of countries in which the aerospace company operates. Both with governments and airlines.
• 340: the number of aircraft delivered by Boeing in 2021.

Boeing shares

Boeing is a world leader in the aerospace, defence and securitymarkets. It makes military aircraft, satellites and helicopters. It is also a major specialist in the construction of both civil and private aircraft.

This aeronautical giant puts its heart and soul into its various civic and environmental initiatives.

Boeing’s corporate citizenship initiatives

The American aircraft manufacturer is committed to organisations and associations that promote employment in local communities. It supports a number of programmes, such as helping to educate young children up to secondary school age. Boeing is also committed to promoting culture and access to the arts.

It also supports health and social services for vulnerable populations.

Boeing is also committed to engaging citizens in current social debates of all kinds.

We will also take a look at Boeing’s latest environmental initiative.

Boeing’s environmental initiatives

Concerned about the environment, Boeing is working to design and manufacture cleaner, more fuel-efficient aircraft.

The aerospace industry is also finding solutions to recycle certain resources. Boeing is also encouraging its employees to work towards sustainable development by 2025.

Boeing is taking a number of environmental initiatives.

Firstly, the aerospace company is partnering with recycling companies in the UK. This means that carbon fibre does not accumulate in landfill sites.

In addition, Boeing supplies its main production sites with electricity from renewable sources. The aircraft manufacturer is also allowing more and more biofuels (SAF) to be used in its aircraft. These are just some of the actions Boeing is taking to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and environmental concerns.

Boeing and France: a long-standing partnership:

The origins of this fruitful, long-term partnership:

Boeing, an aeronautics giant, is working closely with French companies to develop the 787 Dreamliner :

The American aircraft manufacturer Boeing has surrounded itself with the best companies in terms of technology to develop the 787 Dreamliner . Several major French companies have taken part in the development of this technological feat.

They include

• Dassault Systèmes, which provided its design and production tools for the 787 Dreamliner
• Latécoère, which manufactured the aircraft doors
• Michelin, which supplied the aircraft’s radial tyres
• Safran Landing System, which supplied the landing gear and braking system.
• Thales, which designed the lithium-ion batteries, navigation tools and parameters, and entertainment systems.

The Boeing aircraft fleet

Since it was founded in 1916, Boeing has created a multitude of new aircraft for air transport and the air force.

Whether military, civil or private, these aircraft have been adopted by many of the world’s leading airlines. Among others, Boeing has equipped the :

• air France
• Corsair
• Air Austral
• XL Airways.

Today, no fewer than 12,000 commercial aircraft Boeing are in service around the world

We’re going to introduce you to 2 of Boeing’s main aircraft. Below you will find the complete fleet of Boeing commercial aircraft.

Boeing 747:

This aircraft is a long-haul air liner that carries a very large number of passengers, with the capacity to carry up to 450 people over an intercontinental distance of 13,450 km. It is one of the world’s most important jet aircraft models, and has remained at the top of the podium of the world’s largest and highest-capacity aircraft. It was dethroned by the arrival of the A380 after 37 years in first place.This model of aircraft can also be modulated into a cargo plane for air freight. Since its first flight in 1969, this model of aircraft has carried no fewer than 3.5 billion passengers over a distance of 77.8 billion kilometres. Finally, this aircraft is recognisable by its hump at the front of the aircraft, its double deck. It is sometimes even nicknamed the Jumbo Jet. It is sold on the market for 250 million euros.

Boeing BBJ:

The Boeing Business Jet, or BBJ, is a model of Boeing 737 but configured for business aviation and luxury services. Instead of a configuration with hundreds of seats, the BBJ can carry 20 passengers. The interior is configured like a luxury hotel. Different areas have been created, such as

• bedrooms
• a dining room
• bathrooms
• a multimedia room with cinema
• a conference room equipped with connected devices.

The BBJ is adaptable to passenger requirements and promises a luxury service and experience. It is a business jet that can be compared to the Lineage 1000 from Embraer or theA319 fromAirbus. This aircraft is sold on the market for 130 million euros

Travel on board a BOEING aircraft with AEROAFFAIRES :

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