by Excelsior

Created on: May 05, 2009   Last Updated: May 06, 2009

Throughout all the history of aviation, and mankind there have been few corporations that have connected the ideals, the people and their cultures together across the world as have the Boeing Company's airliners. Boeing has set the pace for commercial aviation, and has been at its forefront for an excess of 60 years.

Boeing was formed by William Boeing, a Detroit born, Yale educated engineer. On July 15th , 1916, he and his business partner George Conrad Westervelt, a U.S Navy engineer formed the "Pacific Aero Products Co" and based it in Seattle, Washington.

Their first product was the Boeing Model 1 seaplane, of which only 2 were built. In 1917, the company was renamed the "Boeing Airplane Company". In this intra war period, with many aircraft in surplus from World War 1, the company struggled. To keep it in business it turned to desperate measures and even began manufacturing furniture.

It's first significant airliner development came in 1933, in the form of the Boeing 247. It was revolutionary in the fact that it had an all metal construction, made from anodized aluminum. It also introduced retractable landing gear, a primitive autopilot and even de-icing boots to prevent the accumulation of ice on the flight control surfaces. 75 of these airliners were built, and the primary operator was United Airlines, that had been started as a company by Boeing itself.

After negotiations with Pan American Airways in 1938, the Boeing 314 took shape. This was a 4 engine flying boat which was used for Trans-Pacific operations by Pan Am. The Clipper had the redundancy of 4 engines and the ability to land on water in the event of an emergency. The Boeing 314 was the largest aircraft of its time.

During World War 2, Boeing was involved in the construction of many bombers, notably the B-17 and B-29. These aircraft, especially the B-17 were known for there ruggedness which is still a trait associated with the Boeing Company. Many B-17's would make it back home with entire rudders shot off or half a wing blown clean. Boeing used innovations in these aircraft, such as pressurized cabins in the B-29 for later developments in airlines.

In the early 1950's, Boeing used its own funds, to develop a revolution in airliner technology: the Boeing 367-80, more commonly known as the Dash 80. It's main revolution was that instead of the piston power plants that were the standard for commercial aircraft, it featured pod mounted jet engines. At this time, the major competitor for Boeing was the

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