| Synopsis: |
Founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing, a wealthy timber merchant, the mighty Boeing Company's 100-year history spans decades of rich achievement and technological development. Beginning with the manufacture of seaplanes, fighters and, from the 1930s onwards, huge bombers, Boeing pioneered innovative transports - gigantic airliners, missiles, rockets and most recently vehicles for space exploration and satellites. Constantly evolving, Boeing set out to develop an entirely new jet transport, and in 1954 the innovative 707 appeared. The 727 and 737 airliners quickly followed and in 1969 the revolutionary 747. By 1975 the `Jumbo Jet' was being produced in seven different models and new versions continue to be developed to this day. Aviation author and historian Martin Bowman marks the centenary of Boeing's incorporation in July 1916 with this glorious photographic history, detailing the story of the company from its humble side-project beginnings to its ascent into being one of the world's largest aircraft manufacturers. |