Boeing

From a Seattle seaplane workshop to a global aerospace company

The Boeing Company is a multinational aerospace company founded in Seattle and one of the world’s largest manufacturers of civil and military aircraft. William Edward Boeing incorporated Pacific Aero Products Co. on 15 July 1916; the company was renamed Boeing Airplane Company the following year. The modern company was reincorporated in Delaware in 1934.

The first Boeing aircraft, the Model 1 or B & W seaplane, was designed by William Boeing and U.S. Navy engineer Conrad Westervelt. Early commercial progress followed with training aircraft designed under the direction of Wong Tsu. During the 1920s Boeing developed biplanes such as Models 15, 40 and 80, combining military work with mail and passenger transport.

In the early 1930s Boeing moved decisively into all-metal monoplanes. The Model 200 Monomail and related developments explored streamlined single-wing transport design, while the YB-9 became an early all-metal monoplane bomber. The Boeing 247, introduced in 1933, was among the first modern all-metal passenger airliners and combined retractable landing gear, an enclosed cockpit and twin engines.

The Air Mail Act of 1934 forced the separation of aircraft manufacturers from airlines. The former United Aircraft and Transport Corporation was divided into Boeing Airplane Company, United Air Lines and United Aircraft Corporation. Boeing then concentrated increasingly on aircraft design and production.

During the later 1930s Boeing introduced several landmark types. The four-engine B-17 Flying Fortress first flew in 1935, the enormous experimental XB-15 followed in 1937, and the Boeing 314 Clipper flying boat flew in 1938. The pressurised Model 307 Stratoliner, derived partly from B-17 technology, made its maiden flight on 31 December 1938.

During the Second World War, Boeing greatly expanded production of the B-17 and introduced the B-29 Superfortress. The company also developed the C-97 Stratofreighter from the B-29 family. After the war, Boeing’s large-aircraft experience led to swept-wing jet bombers: the B-47 Stratojet first flew on 17 December 1947, followed by the enduring B-52 Stratofortress on 15 April 1952.

The 1950s transformed Boeing into a commercial jet manufacturer. The privately funded 367-80 prototype demonstrated the basic concept behind both the military KC-135 tanker family and the commercial 707. The KC-135 first flew on 31 August 1956, while the first production 707 flew on 20 December 1957. The shorter, lighter Boeing 720 followed in 1959.

The 1960s brought enormous growth in civil-aircraft production and the acquisition of Vertol Aircraft Corporation, a helicopter specialist. The narrow-body Boeing 727 trijet first flew on 9 February 1963. The first 737 followed on 9 April 1967, beginning what became the most prolific Boeing airliner programme. On 9 February 1969, the wide-body Boeing 747 made its maiden flight and opened a new era of high-capacity long-distance travel.

The early 1970s were difficult for Boeing because of reduced orders, programme costs and a wider aerospace downturn. Nevertheless, the 747 matured into a successful passenger and freighter family. In the following decade Boeing introduced two complementary twinjets: the narrow-body 757 first flew on 19 February 1982, while the wide-body 767 had first flown in September 1981 and entered service with United Airlines in 1982. The 737 was modernised as the Classic series, beginning with the first 737-300 flight in February 1984.

During the 1990s Boeing developed the 777, its first airliner designed fully with computer-aided three-dimensional tools. The first 777 flew on 12 June 1994. The 737 Next Generation followed, with the first 737-700 flying in February 1997. Later that year, Boeing merged with McDonnell Douglas. The McDonnell Douglas MD-95 subsequently entered production under the Boeing 717 name and first flew on 2 September 1998.

During the 2000s Boeing expanded in commercial aircraft, defence, satellites and space systems while facing increasingly strong competition from Airbus. The composite-intensive Boeing 787 Dreamliner made its maiden flight on 15 December 2009. The 747-8, the final major 747 development, followed with its first flight in 2010.

The 737 MAX first flew on 29 January 2016. Its service history was profoundly affected by the loss of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, followed by a worldwide grounding, redesign, regulatory review and phased return to service. Those events made safety governance, engineering oversight and manufacturing quality central issues in Boeing’s modern history.

Boeing also continued to develop the 777X, featuring GE9X engines, a new composite wing and folding wingtips. The 777-9 made its maiden flight on 25 January 2020 and remained in certification and flight testing in 2026.

In May 2022 Boeing moved its corporate headquarters from Chicago to Arlington, Virginia. The company’s principal commercial-aircraft manufacturing and engineering activities remain strongly associated with Washington state and South Carolina, supported by a large national and international supplier network.

Boeing aviation timeline

Boeing commercial-airliner models

Each card links to the corresponding howmany.travel model page. Completed programmes show final production totals; active programmes are described without presenting outstanding orders as aircraft already built.

How the Boeing airliner families connect

Boeing aircraft detected by howmany.travel

howmany.travel combines aircraft history with airframes identified through radio transmissions. Mode S and ADS-B messages provide ICAO addresses and operational information; registration mappings and accumulated observations connect those transmissions to individual aircraft.

Monthly Boeing detection logs

Manufacturing and industrial footprint

Explore the outside world

These selected external resources connect howmany.travel with Boeing’s official history, current commercial products, delivery data and independent certification records.

Editorial and data notes

• Boeing’s official history and chronology provide the principal historical framework.
• Boeing’s June 2026 orders-and-deliveries report records 314 commercial-aircraft deliveries during the first half of 2026.
• Completed programme totals are stated as aircraft built; current programmes are labelled active so outstanding orders are not mistaken for completed airframes.
• FAA records provide independent certification information for Boeing commercial-aircraft models.
• External links open third-party sources; howmany.travel is independent of The Boeing Company.

Live programme figures change monthly.