Their emergence revolutionised the market – between 19, air travel in the US grew by 500%, with 90% of passengers flying on Douglas aircraft. The advancements introduced by the Model 247 were soon standard throughout the industry and were used to particularly good effect on the rival Douglas DC-2 and DC-3. Although it could carry only ten passengers, the type had the capability to cross the US in just 20 hours with seven fuel stops leading to a 60-aircraft order – worth an unprecedented $3.5m – from Boeing Air Transport. This heralded the start of the all-metal transport age.īarely three years later, the bar was set even higher by the Model 247, the first commercial aircraft to incorporate retractable undercarriage. A second version, the 221, took flight on and featured a slightly longer fuselage able to accommodate six passengers. Known as the Monomail, the sleek aircraft had an open cockpit, but incorporated three compartments able to hold up to 2,300lb of cargo. The result was the Model 200, the world's first all-metal aircraft. Our job is to keep everlastingly at research and experiment, and let no new improvement pass us by.” These bold but prophetic words have rung in the ears of generations of Boeing designers ever since. We are pioneers in a new science and a new industry. Commenting at the time, Bill Boeing said: “We must not dismiss any novel idea with the cocksure statement that it can’t be done. On the production side, the company turned its attention to new materials and proposed an all-metal aircraft, a low-wing monoplane with a circular fuselage. The late 1920s marked a period of consolidation for Boeing, which was renamed United Aircraft and Transport Corporation in February 1929 after acquiring several aviation companies. It quickly become known as the ‘Pioneer Pullman of the Air’ and, although only 16 examples were built, they set a benchmark for quality. The type could carry 12 passengers and featured a host of innovations such as wall lamps, ventilation and heating, reclining seats, a soundproofed cabin, small buffet and washrooms with hot and cold water. Work continued on new aircraft and, the following year, the firm introduced the Model 80 tri-motor. In 1922 Boeing received an order for 200 pursuit planes for the US Army – the company made a profit on the deal and never looked back.įlushed with success, the firm entered the airmail sector in February 1927 through new affiliate airline, Boeing Air Transport, which flew 25 Boeing Model 40As under contract to the US Postal Service. The founder’s refusal to give up on his vision for the future of aviation would eventually be vindicated in massive proportions. An order for 50 Model C seaplanes from the US Navy was a huge boost for the fledgling company but the end of the Great War in 1918 led to a glut of military surplus airframes flooding the market and plunged the aviation industry into recession.Īround 95% of America’s aircraft manufacturers went out of business and Boeing resorted to producing furniture to stay afloat.
The rebranding of the firm to the Boeing Airplane Company in May 1917 came barely a month after the US had declared war on the German Empire. On Jhe incorporated Pacific Aero Products and, under his guidance, the tiny company grew into a huge corporation of related industries. After encountering various early biplanes, Bill Boeing elected to produce his own with the simple brief – ‘to build a better airplane’.
It was during his time in Washington State that he developed a fascination with the new phenomenon of aviation. The Boeing Company can trace its origins back to founder William E Boeing, who left Yale University in 1903 to enter the risky but potentially lucrative American northwest timber industry.
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