by Virginia Gaces

Created on: October 07, 2008   Last Updated: November 20, 2011

The Boeing Airliners company has its own illustrious and significant place in history as one of the largest air transport manufacturers and one of the two biggest aerospace defense contractors for civilian and military planes all over the globe.

Its history spanned two world wars and several years of aircraft creation and development, from the simple, B & W seaplanes to the majestic Boeing KC -767, in which Boeing Airlines had always taken the lead in introducing innovations and new frontiers in aircraft production.

The company had humble beginnings in 1917 when its founder William Boeing merged his company with Pacific Aero Products Company to form the Boeing Airline Company in 1918. The first planes built by them were the seaplanes, which were popular during those times.

Further modifications gave birth to the Boeing 247 which made its initial flight in 1933. It was the first, safest air transport in airline history.

This was followed by a better model, 247-D. More comfort and safety features were added.

William Boeing however, was forced to sell his shares in 1934 when government investigations led to the issuance of a Law separating companies who manufacture aircraft and airline companies.

It was in 1938 that "the clipper" or Boeing 314 under Pan am entered the scene. It was also in this year that the Stratoliner: Boeing Model 307 became the first aircraft to be flown high above the clouds at about 15,000 feet.

In World War I, Boeing sold several air crafts to Hubbard Air Transport, which was considered to be the first civilian air transport company.

It was in World War II, in 1944, that Boeings B-17 bombers were manufactured in large numbers every month. There was massive production of these enormous, silent planes as the war in Europe and the Pacific raged on. It contributed enormously to the military's efforts to end the war.

After the war in the late 1950's, the Boeing 707 took its first flight, and created another milestone in air transport history. It was the initial jet liner used for civilian and commercial flights. The production of Boeing 377 followed and several modifications of the commercial plane came about.

In 1960, The CH-47 Chinook, a twin rotor helicopter, was manufactured by Boeing from Vertol Aircraft's designs. The Chinook saw valiant action in the Vietnam War and had since then became very useful in military operations.

The 727 jetliner also was manufactured during this year. This developed into the Boeing model 737-300 and then

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