Overview of the Boeing Company (THE BOEING COMPANY). American Boeing will build a new plant in the Urals

Story Boeing. Part 1 – “Golden Age of Aviation” July 18th, 2016

July 15, 2016 was the 100 years since the founding of one of the largest aircraft manufacturing companies in the world, the American corporation BOEING. For a century now, this company has been working on the creation of aviation and space technology. During this time, Boeing experienced ups and downs, was on the verge of ruin and miraculously rose back to its feet. I bring to your attention the history of the development of the Boeing Corporation. The story consists of 4 parts. In this speech we will focus on the company's propeller-driven aircraft. Links to other parts are below:



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Company founder William Edward Boeing was born on October 1, 1881 in Detroit, Michigan. He was 28 years old when he first saw an airplane fly. It happened in January 1910 when Bill Boeing went to an air show in Los Angeles. He fell in love with airplanes at first sight. He had other hobbies, and he made a living in another area. He was a timber merchant in the Pacific Northwest and was already a wealthy man. But that moment changed his whole life. The miracle of flight attracted him. And he understood that this construction of wood, wire and fabric would one day become an integral part of Everyday life like the railroad and cars.
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His parents are Wilhelm (Wilhelm) and Maria (Marie) Bőing. In 1888, my father changed his surname when he became director of the Peoples Savings Bank in Detroit. He changed the German “ő” in his surname to the American “oe”. His wife Maria was the daughter of his business partner.
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After his first flight in an airplane, William Boeing began to look for ways to improve aircraft technology. He has always strived for innovation. In 1916, Boeing and his friend, naval engineer Conrad Westervelt, designed and built their first B&W aircraft, named after the first letters of their last names. It was a light floatplane of a canvas and wood biplane design with wings of different spans and ailerons on the upper wing. Biplane box consisted of a large number of racks and wire braces. The lower wing was attached directly to the fuselage, which housed two open cockpits in tandem. The tail unit had a strut-braced scheme typical of that time. A Hall-Scott A-5 engine mounted in the forward fuselage drove the tractor propeller. The chassis included two single-row floats, which were attached to the lower part of the fuselage with the help of a truss structure and braces, as well as a small float under the tail section.
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On June 15, 1916, William Boeing first took this plane into the air. Hoping to get a contract with the military, Boeing showed this aircraft to the US Navy. However, they were not interested in him. But William still sold the first two aircraft in New Zealand. The first was named "Bluebill" and the second "Mallard". They were used for mail delivery and military flights. In 1924 they were destroyed. The Museum of Flight in Seattle has a replica B&W aircraft built in 1966 for Boeing's 50th anniversary.
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July 15, 1916 William Boeing and his friend Conrad Westervelt founded the Pacific Aero Products Company to manufacture their own aircraft. May 9, 1917 the company was renamed Boeing Airplane Company. There were dozens of workshops similar to this company in the USA and Europe. Most often, they took the plane of the Wright brothers as a basis and finalized it.

Boeing's first office was located in a former boatyard on the banks of the Duwamish River and was named Red Barn for its color. Aircraft production and accounting were on the ground floor.
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Engineers are second.
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The building was used by the company from its founding in 1916 until 1970.
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On December 16, 1975, the building was moved down the Duwamish River to Boeing Field and became part of the Museum of Flight in Seattle.
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William Boeing knew how to find both good managers and talented designers. In May 1916, the company hired its first aircraft designer, Wong Tsu.
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Boeing's first customer was the US Army. Designer Wong Tsu took part in the development of the Model C aircraft. It was similar to the first B&W aircraft, but the upper wing with an enlarged transverse "V" was moved forward, and the internal struts were changed. In addition, the tail was redesigned: the rear float and the fixed part of the stabilizer were removed, and a fixed keel was added in front of the rudder. The Navy ordered 50 trainers. But the end of World War I in 1918 demonstrated the fickleness of the aviation business. The military purchased only two aircraft. Orders dried up, and two-thirds of the workers had to be dismissed. The company itself temporarily took up the production of furniture.

After the First World War, there was a need for rapid mail delivery throughout America. Contracts for the carriage of postal mail led to the emergence of domestic airlines. At that time, there was no federal freeway network. Therefore, the aircraft were in great demand. Even though the aviation of that time was very unreliable, and weather made flying more difficult, airmail promised to be a lucrative business. In 1919, Boeing personally flew from Seattle to Canada's Vancouver, establishing the first international air route. In the 1920s, mail contracts were the sole engine of the aviation industry. Due to them, aircraft manufacturers survived.

To carry mail, Boeing created the Model 40. It was the first civilian aircraft, embodying William's idea of ​​achieving a competitive advantage by building the most advanced models of its time. The prototype of this aircraft first flew on July 7, 1925.
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The steel tube frame and air-cooled engine made the aircraft almost 100 kg lighter than its competitors. With the Model 40, Boeing won a government contract to carry mail between San Francisco and Chicago, giving his company the number one spot in the business. Other routes soon began to appear.
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In addition to the pilot, two people could fit in the fuselage of the 40th Boeing model. But over time, wealthy people began to consider air travel seriously. Just 14 months after the Model 40, Boeing introduced the Model 80. It was Boeing's first aircraft designed specifically for passengers. 12 people could sit on leather seats in a warm comfortable cabin, where there were individual reading lights, as well as hot and cold water. The cockpit for the first time was made closed and separated from the passenger compartment. In the 80th model, flight attendants first appeared. They were nurses who looked after passengers and calmed those who were afraid to fly. Wealthy people began to travel by air. In the new modification of the Model 80A, the number of passengers increased to 18. A total of 12 aircraft of various modifications were built.
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William Boeing decided to merge several companies into one. Why build airplanes if you don't have an airline to fly them? It was the prototype of modern corporations. Boeing first acquired Pratt & Whitney's engine business. Then founded by him new company"United Aircraft & Transport Corporation" began to buy smaller aviation enterprises, which in just a few years turned into an incredibly successful aviation holding that flourished even during the general crisis in the country. Boeing bought other carriers and combined their routes into a national network, which soon performed 50% of all mail and passenger traffic in the United States, forming United Airlines. Now it is strange to imagine that an aircraft manufacturer also owned an airline. But then it was natural.

Boeing produced the most advanced aircraft of its time. In the 1930s, the company set about developing a revolutionary aircraft design. The Boeing 247 was the first modern passenger airliner. It has passed a full cycle of static tests. It had variable pitch propellers, a heated interior, retractable landing gear, anti-icing devices on the wing and tail, trim tabs and an autopilot. The salon was equipped with sound and heat insulation. It was the first twin-engine aircraft that could continue flying if one engine failed, and the landing speed of 100 km / h made it possible to abandon the mechanization of the wing.
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The forward-sloping cab windshield was an attempt to get rid of the glare on it from the instrument panel lighting. However, this solution caused glare from the landing lights on the runway. Therefore, on later models, the cab glazing acquired a traditional shape, and the problem of glare from the dashboard was solved by using the now traditional visors on the dashboard.
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It was a huge leap forward. For United Airlines, 60 of these aircraft were built.
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Other airlines had to queue up until United Airlines received their planes. This forced them to turn to other manufacturers with the challenge of building an aircraft better than this one. TWA (Trans World Airlines), American Airlines and KLM turned to Boeing's competitor Douglas Aircraft and its founder Donald Douglas. The fight between Boeing and Douglas was the greatest confrontation in the American aircraft industry. However, Boeing fell behind in this race. After all, some advanced ideas were no longer enough. Douglas took all the advanced design ideas of the 247 and developed them substantially. Improved the design, conducted more thorough tests in the wind tunnel. This is how the DC-1 was born. Then new modifications DC-2 and DC-3 came out. They were a huge success and came to dominate the industry. Airlines bought hundreds of these models, and the 247 was forgotten. In the photo DC-3.
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However, William Boeing still had contracts for mail transportation, as well as an airline that transported every year all more passengers. But it was they who eventually turned against William. During the Depression, success was suspect. "United Aircraft & Transport Corporation" prospered and controlled 50% of the market. So people assumed it was all about corruption. In 1933, Senator Hugo Black took over the overthrow of the giant, who accused Boeing of colluding with post offices to obtain contracts. The senator accused them of profiting at the expense of taxpayers. He demanded that the contracts be canceled and the United Aircraft & Transport Corporation disbanded.

William Boeing was called to testify in court. He was interrogated for almost 6 hours. And then they accused him of illegally profiting from postal contracts. The decision of Congress was ruthless. The holdings were ordered to be broken up. Because the merger of aircraft manufacturers and airlines gave their owners too much power. The new rules stated that an aircraft manufacturer could not be an air carrier at the same time. This led to the collapse of the Boeing holding, which was created with great difficulty. However, President Franklin Roosevelt went even further. He ordered the Minister of Communications to cancel all contracts with airlines to carry mail. It was planned that henceforth the mail would be delivered by the armed forces. 83 companies lost contracts. But the army aviation had neither experience nor suitable aircraft. And soon there were 12 accidents and more than 60 accidents during the transportation of mail by the military. The well-established air transport system of the country has practically collapsed. But when, a few months later, Roosevelt realized the mistake of his decision and reversed it, Boeing was destroyed. William Boeing himself retired. He left the aviation business, sold his stake and started breeding horses. At the end of his life, he retired on his own yacht off the coast of Canada, where he died on September 28, 1956, just three days before his 75th birthday.

Douglas aircraft were the first to make money on the transportation of passengers, not mail. Air travel has reached a certain level of safety, comfort and sophistication that has changed the way people think about this mode of transportation. Flying became not a test, but a pleasure. But they still remained the privileges of the rich. Airline owners quickly realized that in order to attract passengers, they had to outperform their competitors. Luxurious interior elements have come into fashion.

In 1936, Pan American World Airways, determined to make the first transatlantic flights, turned to all the leading aircraft manufacturers in America with the task of designing an aircraft that would satisfy the following parameters: it had to be able to carry 4.5 tons of cargo and 70 passengers, reach a speed of 240 km / h with a headwind of 50 km / h and have a non-stop flight range of 3100 km. The requirements were so ambitious that some companies simply didn't take on the development. But Boeing engineers took an unusual approach to building the new aircraft. They presented it in the form of a boat. Below deck, the designers placed 11 watertight compartments located between the two hulls. Even if the outer hull leaks, water will not enter the inner hull and sink the boat. The aircraft was equipped with an anchor and life rafts. The project was named the Boeing 314 Clipper. After Boeing sent sketches to Pan American, on July 21, 1936, they signed a contract to build 6 aircraft that enabled Pan American to open the first cargo and passenger line across the Atlantic. The first flight of the new machine took place on June 7, 1938. This aircraft has become a symbol of luxury in air travel. Its salon was equipped with air conditioning and a separate bar. Passenger seats could be folded out and used as sleeping shelves. On board there was a lounge and a restaurant served by stewards. Food was served on chinaware with silver cutlery. However, only 12 aircraft were built in total. Each of them had their own name. Unfortunately, none have survived to this day. Therefore, I took a photo of this car from the Internet.
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In the 1930s, Boeing experienced a severe crisis. The number of employees was reduced from 1700 to 700 people. During the golden age of aviation, Douglas Aircraft dominated the market.

But on August 22, 1934, the company received an official circular from the US Army. Boeing, along with Douglas Aircraft and Lockheed Corporation, was invited to take part in a competition to create a new bomber. The army needed a multi-engine vehicle capable of carrying a ton of bombs and covering a distance of up to 3,500 km at a speed of over 320 km/h. The winner of the competition received an order for 200 aircraft. For Boeing, this was the last chance. The prototype B-17 was designed and built in just 11 months. It was a new plane. One of the journalists called it “Flying Fortress” (“Flying Fortress”) and the nickname stuck.
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During the tests, it was obvious that the aircraft met all the requirements of the military. However, on the penultimate day of testing, disaster struck. The plane took off from the ground, and after some time crashed to the ground and caught fire. Two pilots were killed. The investigation showed that there were no mechanical problems in the B-17. The crash happened because of a mistake. The prototype was equipped with an elevator lock on the ground. And the test pilot took off without releasing the lock. Boeing lost. The competition was won by Douglas Aircraft. But the company created a plane so superior to the competition that the Army Air Corps persuaded the command to buy a squadron of B-17s. The Air Force ordered 13 bombers. This order kept Boeing afloat.
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Simultaneously with the B-17, the company developed a passenger version of the aircraft, called the Boeing 307 "Stratoliner". For the first time in the history of civil aviation, a pressurized fuselage was made on an aircraft, which made it possible to fly at an altitude of 7500 - 7800 meters, above thunderclouds. Bad weather was then the main hindrance to passenger traffic. The height at which the 307th was supposed to fly was enormous at that time. Boeing 307 became the first passenger aircraft in the world with a pressurized cabin. The wing, tail, engines and landing gear were taken entirely from the B-17. The fuselage was completely new. It had a circular cross section so that the air pressure on high altitude distributed evenly. The plane was designed for 33 passengers. The pressurized fuselage pressurization system from two compressors driven by internal engines through power take-offs and intermediate shafts provided at an altitude of 7000 meters a pressure in the cabin equal to atmospheric pressure at an altitude of 3600 meters.
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On December 31, 1938, the aircraft took to the air for the first time. However, it did not arouse much interest among airlines. They were cautious, not knowing how the new pressurized fuselage would behave.
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On March 18, 1939, the Stratoliner prototype crashed. All on board perished. According to eyewitnesses of the tragedy, the plane fell apart in the air. Analysis of the readings of the control and recording equipment made it possible to find out what happened. The ill-fated flight was intended to test the directional stability of the aircraft in case of failure of one engine. After turning off one of the external engines, the aircraft lost speed and fell into a tailspin, and when trying to get out of it, the wing could not withstand the overload and collapsed. It turned out that the ailerons and rudder were too small and practically useless when recovering from a spin. The keel, borrowed from the B-17, was also small. Remodeling was urgently needed. An enlarged keel with a powerful forkeel was urgently installed on the remaining cars, the ailerons were finalized, and slats were installed on the outer wing consoles.
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The aircraft's reputation was further damaged after one of the aircraft on an acceptance flight for the airline was caught in a severe thunderstorm at an altitude of 6,000 meters. All four engines stalled due to carburetor icing. This shortcoming was later also eliminated. However, these two cases did their job: there were no more new orders for the Boeing 307.
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A total of 10 aircraft were built. To date, only one has survived. Liner with tail number NC-19903 and the name "Clipper Flying Cloud" flew until the 70s. Now it is installed in national museum US aviation.
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Boeing was in a difficult position. For almost 10 years, her planes did not make a profit. But the war changed everything. The ongoing war in Europe demanded that you prepare to defend your country and help protect your allies. President Roosevelt demanded that 50,000 aircraft be built. At that moment all military aviation USA consisted of 1200 aircraft. This forced rival companies Boeing, Douglas Aircraft and Lockheed Corporation to merge. The B-17s alone were ordered 12,000 units. It changed the entire American aircraft industry. Aircraft were produced from the assembly line at 12-15 pieces per day.
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Japan's standoff in the Pacific called for a bomber with a range greater than that of the B-17. And during the war, Boeing developed a new B-29 bomber known as the "Superfortress". In terms of flight range and bomb load, it surpassed any aircraft of that time. The command ordered to establish the production of 25 aircraft per month within 2 years. In just 18 months, a huge plant was built in Wichita, Kansas. The B-29 was very different from the B-17. His cabin was airtight. It was equipped with the most advanced avionics, radar systems and remote controlled guns. By the summer of 1944, the factories were producing over 50 B-29s per month. They played a big role in the war with Japan. 33.

The B-29 aircraft became a participant in events that have no analogues in world history. August 6, 1945 bomber with the nickname " Enola Gay ”, overcoming 2500 km, dropped the first atomic bomb “Kid” (“Little Boy”) on the city of Hiroshima. A few days later, on August 9, a second "Fat Man" bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Now B-29" Enola Gay ” is located in the US National Aviation Museum.
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During the Second World War, priority was given to combat aircraft, and transport aviation was financed on a residual basis. However, Boeing's management feared that after the war they might lose the civil aircraft market. By July 20, 1942, the company completed preliminary work on the project of the C-97 “Stratofreighter” military transport aircraft, which differed from the base B -29 mainly fuselage design. The car was created two-deck. The lower part of the fuselage B -29 has been retained. Instead of bomb bays, cargo decks were equipped. From above, another fuselage with a circumference of 3.35 meters in diameter was “attached” to the fuselage section. As a result, the aircraft turned from a medium-wing aircraft into a low-wing aircraft, and the new fuselage acquired a characteristic section in the form of a figure-eight or “ D ouble-bubble” (“Double bubble”). Characteristic deep folds appeared along the sides.
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The first prototype of the Stratofreighter took to the skies on November 9, 1944. And the first production aircraft was put into operation in 1947. The transporter could take up to 18.5 tons of cargo, which was loaded through the rear cargo hatch, and with the help of an electric winch, the cargo moved along the stretched guides through the entire 24-meter cabin. Cars or light armored vehicles drove onto the cargo deck on their own. The aircraft could take on board at least 134 military personnel, and in the medical evacuation version - 83 wounded on stretchers and four paramedics.

In the 50s, the Strategic Air Command (SAC) of the US Air Force was in dire need of in large numbers tankers to refuel strategic bombers in flight. Therefore, Boeing conducted a test cycle, installing its own Flying Boom in-flight refueling system on three C-97 aircraft, and then proceeded to produce serial KS-97 tanker aircraft. In 1964, some of the aircraft were re-equipped with two General Electric J47-GE-25A turbojet engines. As a result, the air tanker had 4 main piston engines and 2 auxiliary turbojet engines. The aircraft received the designation KC-97L. It was adopted by the US Air National Guard. It was this aircraft that I met at the Castle Air Museum in Atwater, California.
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On the basis of the C-97 Stratofreighter military transport aircraft, its passenger version, the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser, was created. It was designed for 55-100 people, depending on the layout of the cabin. On the “lower deck” behind the wing there was an additional salon with 14 seats, where you could go down the spiral staircase. This saloon was used as a bar, not to accommodate extra passengers. Women's and men's toilets were provided, and the kitchen block, located in the tail section of the cabin, was the most perfect at that time. The first order for 20 aircraft came from Pan American World Airways.
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The Stratocruiser has been supplied to six airlines. Northwest Orient Airlines ordered ten Boeing 377 aircraft. Their feature was not round, but square passenger cabin windows. The airline management believed that round windows looked very much like ship portholes and did not give passengers sufficient visibility. The Boeing 377 was perhaps the only passenger aircraft in the world where the shape of the windows was determined by the buyer.
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A total of 55 Boeing 377 Stratocruiser aircraft were built. Passenger version turned out to be less popular than transport, and even more so than air refueling aircraft. C -97 "Stratofrighter" was built in the amount of 77 copies, and the KC-97 refueling tanker in the amount of 811 copies. I have yet to meet a single Boeing 377 Stratocruiser in my life.

An interesting fact is that based on passenger Boeing 377 in the early 60s Aero Spacelines has created a transport aircraft for the transport of oversized cargo "Pregnant Guppy". It made its first flight on September 19, 1962. And in 1965, his enlarged version of the “Super Guppy” rose into the sky. In 1967, the French firm Aerospatiale purchased two aircraft to transport parts of airliners under construction. Airbus later acquired a production license and two more Super Guppys were built in the early 1980s. They were used to deliver large parts to the final assembly plant in Toulouse. In the 90s they were replaced by specially designed Airbus aircraft A300-600ST “Beluga”.
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Boeing is not only the legendary “humpbacked” 747, the one that was blown up by Bruce Willis in the film “Die Hard 2” ...

... but also, in addition to civil aviation: military helicopters, fighters, cruise missiles, spacecraft, launch vehicles, satellite systems and many other high-tech developments, but ... first things first.

The Boeing Company today

Leadership: facts and figures

• presenter aerospace corporation in the world;
• The world's largest manufacturer of passenger aircraft;
• World leader in space launch, guided space flight and missile defense;
• One of the largest US exporters based on sales volumes;
• Customers and clients of the company are located in more than 145 countries of the world;
• The staff of all divisions of the Boeing Corporation is more than 170,000 employees in 70 countries of the world:
• Production facilities (factories) are located in 67 countries around the world;
• The Boeing Company cooperates with more than 5200 suppliers in 100 countries
• Market capitalization of the company - more than 60 billion dollars;
• The company's revenue according to the crisis year of 2008 is $60.9 billion, net profit is $2.7 billion.
• To date, over 12,000 civil aircraft manufactured by Boeing, which is about 75-80% of the entire world fleet.

Activity of the company

The company is headquartered in Chicago (Illinois, USA). President and Chairman of the Board of Directors - James McNerney.

The Boeing Company specializes in the production of a wide range of civil and military aviation, aerospace equipment: it develops and produces modern information systems, communication systems, electronic and defense systems, missiles, military helicopters, satellites, provides a range of services in the field of support and after-sales service aircraft engineering. And yes, Boeing is cooperating with NASA, in particular, it is engaged in servicing the International Space Station (ISS).

The structure of the corporation consists of 2 main divisions:

• Boeing Commercial Airplanes - civil aviation;
• Integrated Defense Systems - military and space programs.

And 3 more child structures:

• Boeing Capital Corporation - financing;
• Shared Services Group - support, infrastructure, maintenance;
• Boeing Engineering, Operations & Technology - development and implementation of innovative technologies.

Boeing history

First steps towards the sky

Founding father - William Boeing

William Boeing was born in 1881 in the family of an American and a successful German mining engineer. William followed in his father's footsteps by enrolling at Yale University as an engineer but never graduated.

In 1903, his father died, leaving the logging business to the 22-year-old heir. The beginning of the 20th century - the United States is experiencing rapid growth, the timber trade is the most profitable business in the country, second only to gold mining (which confirms). Together with the country's economy, William's capital grew at a rapid pace, but ... let's go back to 1903 again.

Passion for aviation

In addition to the departure of William Boeing from the university, another equally significant event in the history of aviation took place. The Wright brothers, on the beach North Carolina made the first controlled flight in history.

Not just an interest, but a real passion for aviation, Boeing woke up after an exhibition in Seattle in 1909, where he saw a small airship. A couple of months later, Charles Hamilton made a demonstration flight in a Curtiss Reims Racer in Georgetown. William could not miss this event, he was fired up with the desire to fly.

First flight

Sharing a passion for bridge, he meets Conrad Westervelt, Lieutenant navy, and at the same time an ardent admirer of airplanes. In 1915, he managed to fulfill his dream. Two friends tracked down the one who agreed to lift them into the air, Tyra Maroni became the pilot. Stepping on the ground after the flight, William was imbued with a firm intention: to learn to fly and become the owner of his own aircraft.

The teacher (Glenn Martin) found himself in Los Angeles, where the future aviator purposefully went, returned to Seattle Boeing on his own seaplane. Landing, William damaged the floats, and since the planes were very rare at that time, spare parts had to wait for several months.

Birth of Pacific Aero Club

Enthusiast friends decided to take matters into their own hands and start manufacturing aircraft parts on their own. At the same time, they converted an old boatyard located on the shore of the lake into a hangar, on its basis they created their own Pacific Aero Club - they offered everyone who wanted to travel by air on a commercial basis.

B&W - the first aircraft of its own production

Deficiencies in the design of their hydroplane prompted William Boeing and Kondrat Westervelt to create their own aircraft. The partners hired self-taught engineer Herb Munter. In the summer of 1916, 2 models of the B&W aircraft (named after the initials of the customers) were ready. Made from canvas, wood and wire, they were named Bluebill and Mallard. Engine power reached 125 horsepower, which made it possible to overcome up to 500 kilometers per cruising speed at 109 km/h.

The day of the test flight came - the pilot is late, everyone is nervous, but most of all - William. Unable to stand it, he starts the engine, picks up speed and flies over the surface of the water of the lake ...

Boeing Airplane Company and World War I

A month later, Pacific Aero Products was registered to organize the mass production of aircraft. However, despite the enthusiasm of the creators, their offspring did not have commercial success - the company suffered losses, which were covered at personal expense.

In 1917, the United States enters the First World War. Boeing's partner, Westervelt, being a military sailor, was seconded to the east of the country. As for William, he renames the company to the Boeing Airplane Company, invests in the enterprise a colossal amount for those times - $ 100 thousand, and begins to develop a new model "C".

Soon, a major client was found that brought in 116 thousand dollars in revenue - the US Navy and Army, which placed an order for 56 aircraft for the study and training of military pilots.

In order to fulfill the order, it was necessary to expand production: by the end of 1917, the number of employees increased to 337 people, 2/3 of them were seamstresses who cut and sewed canvas wings.

1918, the signing of peace with Germany, as a result - the termination of military contracts. The company is on the verge of bankruptcy, it is forced to change its profile: it produces boats, furniture, etc. But there were also pleasant moments: in 1919, the New Zealand Post bought B&W aircraft, paying $ 3,750 for each. Despite the difficulties, the engineers of the Boeing Airplane Company continued their work in the field of aviation.

11 days - that's how long it takes to assemble one brand new and sparkling Boeing 737, the world's most popular passenger aircraft! In total, 38 aircraft per month are assembled at the Renton plant, and the 737 line itself has been produced since 1967! More than 7,600 aircraft have already been delivered to customers... And another 3,000 aircraft have been ordered and are awaiting assembly and delivery! At the same time, the atmosphere on the assembly line itself is more than imposingly relaxed. Visually, no one is in a hurry, because the most important thing is safety, this is where the price of a mistake is very high. Therefore, each employee of the assembly line works at a very comfortable pace without haste and fatigue.

In this report, I invite you to the factory where Boeing-737s are assembled, because all of you, almost certainly, have flown this plane at least once in your life! So, with this type I will begin a large series of reports from the Boeing factories in Seattle.

But first, the layout of the plants around Seattle. The 737 is assembled in Renton, then the aircraft flies to Boeing Field Airport, where, after a series of test flights, it is handed over to the customer. Long-haul aircraft are assembled and handed over to the customer in Everett, there is also a center for visiting tourists, you can go to the factory as part of an excursion.

The manufacturing facility in Renton includes production lines for the assembly of Boeing 737 NG narrow-body aircraft and modifications. Production in Renton was launched on the eve of the Second World War. The famous Boeing B-17 flying fortresses were created here.

After the war, in 1952, the first jet passenger aircraft Boeing 707 left the stocks of the plant. All subsequent series and modifications of Boeing narrow-body aircraft were developed here: -707, -727, -737 and -757. Today, 4 modifications of the Boeing 737 NG aircraft remain in Renton's production program. The assembly of the latest version of the Boeing 737 aircraft, the 737 MAX modification, will also be launched here.

In 2003, the consolidation of production in Renton was carried out. All design and support divisions received residence permits in the premises directly adjacent to production. This restructuring has improved the efficiency of management and interaction. At the same time, production areas were reduced by more than 40%. Production is organized as a moving assembly line, essentially the world's first conveyor assembly of passenger aircraft.

Pay attention to the next two photos, they hang at the entrance to the production. The first was made in the 80s, the second is a modern conveyor (!) scheme of work. The entire assembly line moves continuously at a speed of 5cm/min!

The fuselages for the Boeing 737 are being built in Wichita, Kansas. Delivered by rail to a distance of 3218 km. Delivery to the factory in Renton takes about 8 days.

In one of the reports earlier, someone in the comments noted why the Boeing fuselage is uniformly green, while Airbus' green has different shades. Answer: Boeing 737's entire fuselage is assembled at one plant, Airbus's different parts are produced at different enterprises. However, large Boeings also have different ones, but more on that in one of the following reports.

The rhythmic production of aircraft was made possible by the implementation of a virtual model of each assembled aircraft. Long before the laying of the aircraft, the virtual model ensures the perfect assembly of all components and components (kitchens from Japan, armchairs from Italy), in accordance with the most diverse requirements of customers. The principles of “Lean Manufacturing” are fully implemented here. On the other hand, this made it possible to reduce the entire cycle from order to delivery from 2 and a half years to 11 months. Every month, up to 38 Boeing-737 aircraft leave the gates of the plant, and a total of 415 aircraft were delivered to customers in 2012.

Now one aircraft is being assembled for 11 days, plans are to reach the mark of 10 days! And not by increasing the number of employees or space, but by optimizing the assembly process:

New 737-800 for FlyDubai. It was for this airline on December 16, 2011 that Boeing delivered the 7000th 737th!

Almost everything is handmade!

We pass to the second line.
In general, the height of the pavilion with assembly line 737 is 33m, width 230m, dyne 340m.

In this position, the vertical and horizontal stabilizers are mounted:

The territory is huge - therefore, employees use bicycles to move around:

In the center of the hall, installation of galleries, hydraulics, chassis,

In the following position, the salon and chairs, toilets, luggage compartments are mounted:

And finally, the last position before rolling out is the installation of CFM engines:

Then the plane is rolled out and transported for painting to the next workshop, but it makes its first flight being completely unpainted! This aircraft for the Chinese returned to the assembly shop for further refinement of the components after test flights:

And near the lake, beauty!

After rolling out, the planes are towed for 5 days to the Renton airfield, which is just a couple of hundred meters from the assembly shop. This is where refueling takes place; performance of pre-flight tests, including engine testing procedures. The aircraft is on its 1st flight to the Seattle Supply Center at Boeing Field; aircraft painting is carried out in Seattle or Renton; painting takes 3 days; 1/3 of all planes are painted in Renton.

Then flight tests are carried out, which involve Boeing pilots and pilots of the customer and it takes about 7 days.

I didn’t manage to get to the paint shop either on a Boeing or an Airbus, I really wanted to, but I had to put on a lot of things, and there wasn’t enough time, as usual ... Usually, about 190 liters of paint are required to paint 737. After drying, the weight of the paint is one aircraft is approximately 113 kilograms, depending on the paint application scheme.

In the next report, I will talk about what I saw at the Boeing Field airfield.
For example, a brand new 737-900 for the Ukrainian UIA, which has just returned after its first flight from the factory in Renton to Boeing Field:

70% of all civil aircraft sold by Boeing belong to the 737 family. It was here that UTair ordered as part of the fleet renewal and replenishment program.

Thank you for the excursion! :)

More than 1,700 Boeing 737s are in the air every second in the world's sky! Monitor "live", you can view each type of aircraft from those that are in the air. At the time of my visit it was: 787 - 14: A380 - 80.

Traditionally, many thanks for the opportunity to see all this live - Lena Galanova and the Boeing press service! :)

Reports about the Boeing 737, its history and features, as well as about the new 737-800 for UTair, which flew from Moscow to Tyumen last night:

Stay in touch! |

https://www.site/2016-12-21/biznes_na_fone_sankciy_amerikanskiy_boeing_obyavil_o_starte_krupnogo_proekta_na_urale

Business against the backdrop of sanctions

American Boeing will build a new plant in the Urals

The American company Boeing has officially announced that, together with the VSMPO-Avisma Corporation, it will build a new plant in the Titanium Valley Special Economic Zone, which will produce parts for commercial airliners. The new production facility with an area of ​​22,000 square meters will become part of the existing Ural Boeing Manufacturing joint venture. Legally, it is its extension, although physically it is a new plant in a new location.

The agreement on the construction of the plant, which will start operating in Verkhnyaya Salda in 2018, was solemnly signed in Moscow by Boeing President in Russia and the CIS Sergey Kravchenko, VSMPO-Avisma CEO Mikhail Voevodin and Titanium Valley CEO Artemy Kyzlasov. For signing in Hotel Four Seasons in the center of Moscow, Sverdlovsk Governor Yevgeny Kuyvashev also arrived.

Boeing and VSMPO-Avisma will invest 50/50 in the new venture. The parties do not name the total amount of investments, and the sources of financing are also unknown. Judging by some words, most likely, we are talking about tens of millions of dollars.

American and Japanese machines will be installed at the enterprise. The SEZ regime allows not to pay customs duties for imported equipment, so the partners managed to save 30-40% on imported machines.

Only 50-100 people will work at a large plant - according to the participants of the joint venture, these will not be workers, but highly qualified engineers. Much in production will happen automatically. Sergey Kravchenko called this plant the most modern enterprise in the world for the manufacture of aircraft parts.

The new facility will increase the supply of titanium products for Boeing. Now the share of Russian titanium in aircraft is 35%, VSMPO is the largest supplier of this metal for the aircraft manufacturer. This ratio will remain unchanged, but deliveries will increase as Boeing looks to build more Boeing 787s and new Boeing The 777X, not yet airborne, is already in high demand. All these planes are made using Ural metal.

Cooperation against the backdrop of sanctions

The official announcement of the expansion of production looks unusual against the backdrop of poor relations between Russia and the United States. Just recently, the US Treasury announced the expansion of anti-Russian sanctions, and now the American Boeing officially announces large investments in Russian industry.

Boeing's Sergei Kravchenko admitted at a press conference that political differences "do not help." Explaining how cooperation could even take place at such a moment, he put it figuratively: “Thank God, these rains, thunderstorms and storms did not affect our projects, which fly higher than these contradictions,” he said. According to Kravchenko, all Boeing projects are so long-term that looking back at the change political situation the company just can't.

He confirmed that the joint venture is being built "absolutely transparent" for the authorities of Russia and the United States. The press conference was attended by representatives of the American aviation authorities and the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Why Boeing Ural

Governor Yevgeny Kuyvashev, speaking to reporters, said that for Sverdlovsk region the construction of the plant is not only about 50-100 jobs, but also cooperation with scientists from Ural Federal University, and most importantly, it is an important symbol for Titanium Valley.

After the appearance of the anchor resident, other SEZ participants, who previously might not have believed in the prospects of the project, will come faster. Kuyvashev, referring to being busy, did not stay for the press conference and did not answer journalists' questions. Sergey Kravchenko of Boeing thanked him for his help and called him "one of the most innovative governors."

The new joint production with Boeing is a long-awaited project for the Sverdlovsk authorities. It began to be discussed many years ago, and the future of Titanium Valley largely depended on the appearance of a key resident. Now the SEZ hopes that other major participants will follow Boeing, including Airbus and the United Aircraft Corporation.

Boeing's Sergey Kravchenko has estimated the aircraft building market for the next 20 years at $3.5 trillion. He was glad that the Urals "strongly took their place in the stalls" in this market.

On February 9, 1969, an airplane took off for the first time. Boeing 747, which in the next half century became one of the most famous and sought-after airliners from this American company. However, under this brand for almost a hundred years, many at least legendary aircraft, about which and will be discussed in this review.

Boeing Model 1 - the firstborn from Boeing

Boeing Model C - the first production model

Boeing 247 - the first modern airliner

B-29 Superfortress - flying superfortress

Boeing 707 - the first "seven"

Boeing 737 - the most massive airliner

Boeing 747 - giant aircraft, legendary aircraft

Boeing 767 - the workhorse of air carriers

Boeing 777 - three sevens

Boeing 787 Dreamliner - dream liner