AEROSPACE & RELATED COMPANIES A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z                    HOME ABOUT CATEGORIES SITE MAP COPYRIGHT ADVERTISE CONTACT entire Web this site Boeing A major US aerospace company that, in addition to aircraft and other products, manufactures the modern Delta family of space launch vehicles, the Inertial Upper Stage, and a variety of rocket engines through its Rocketdyne subsiduary. It is also the prime contractor for the International Space Station (and the builder of the U.S. Destiny laboratory module) and a partner in Sea Launch. Boeing was involved in the development of the Bomarc missile and of the design of the Dyna-Soar (X-20), and built the Lunar Orbiters, the first stage of the Saturn V, the Apollo lunar rover, and the Space Shuttle main engine. In 1996, it merged with Rockwell (which had evolved from North American Aviation and included Rocketdyne) and in 1997 merged with McDonnell Douglas. Boeing was the world's largest producer of commercial aircraft in the second half of the 20th century. Originally incorporated as Pacific Aero Products Company (1916), Boeing, after two other incarnations, assumed its current name in 1961. The company pioneered the development of single-wing airplanes in the 1930's and also developed bomber aircraft-i.e., the B-17 Flying Fortress and the B-29 Superfortress-which played prominent roles in World War II. It produced America's first jet airliner in 1954/55, the Boeing 707. Boeing was formed by the American industrialist William E. Boeing (1881-1956) a few months after he and a Navy officer, G. Conrad Westerveldt, developed the "B&W" seaplane – a two-seater aircraft with twin floats. Related category    • AEROSPACE AND RELATED COMPANIES Sources: Boeing, NASA Also on this site: Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living Encyclopedia of History Transport Concepts & Designs (partner site) BACK TO TOP