First Quarter 2008
Jan. 2, 2008
Dubai Aerospace Enterprise finalizes the purchase of 100 airplanes valued at approximately $10.9 billion. The order includes 70 Next Generation 737s, 15 787 Dreamliners, 10 777-300ER (Extended Range) airplanes and five 747-8 Freighters. The carrier offers airplanes on lease to airlines worldwide through its business unit, DAE Capital.
News Release
Brazil's GOL Airlines, Latin America's largest 737 operator, announces an order for 40 Next-Generation 737 airplanes, with options for another 40.
News Release
Jan. 3, 2008
Boeing submits its KC-767 Advanced Tanker proposal for the U.S. Air Force's KC-X competition to replace the aging fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers. The proposal is for a derivative of the future 767-200 Long Range Freighter.
News Release
Jan. 15, 2008
Boeing acquires signals from the Thuraya-3 Geo-mobile satellite shortly after its launch aboard a Sea Launch Zenit-3SL rocket, indicating the Boeing-built spacecraft is operating as designed. It is the third satellite Boeing has built for Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Company. Sea Launch is jointly owned by Boeing and three other companies.
News Release
Jan. 18, 2008
Boeing announces a contract from the U.S Air Force for systems engineering and computer-aided design in support of the A-10 Wing Replacement program. The award is based on Boeing's expertise in converting two-dimensional drawings to three-dimensional environments, as well as experience with aircraft wing structures.
News Release
Jan. 19, 2008
Bahrain's national carrier, Gulf Air, finalizes an agreement to purchase up to 24 787 Dreamliners. The agreement is for 16 787s on direct order, with purchase rights for eight more.
News Release
Jan. 22, 2008
Spanish carrier Air Europa announces an order for eight 787-8 Dreamliners valued at $1.3 billion at list prices. The airline also acquired purchase rights for an additional eight 787s.
News Release
Jan. 25, 2008
Boeing and Lockheed Martin announce they will collaborate on work in pursuit of the anticipated U.S. Air Force Next Generation Bomber program. The two companies agree to partner on studies and system development efforts, including research and development.
News release
Feb. 19, 2008
Jakarta-based Lion Air announces an order for 56 Next-Generation 737-900ER (Extended Range) airplanes. The order, valued at more than $4.4 billion at list prices, brings Lion Air's combined orders for the 737-900ER to 178.
News Release
Feb. 20, 2008
Boeing delivers the first of four KC-767 Tankers to Itochu Corp. for Japan's Air Self-Defense Force. The aircraft is the first aerial refueling tanker in Japan's history.
News Release
Boeing announces it has successfully tested the integrated avionics and flight systems hardware and software in final development for the 787 Dreamliner. During the flight-simulator testing, a flight crew demonstrated taxi and takeoff, climb, simulated engine failure, approach and landing.
Feb. 21, 2008
Continental Airlines announces orders for eight 777-200ER (Extended Range) and 19 737-700 airplanes. The orders have a combined value of $2.9 billion at list prices. The order brings Continental's total firm commitments for new Boeing airplanes to 111.
The U.S. military says it used a tactical Standard Missile-3 to intercept a non-functioning satellite before it entered the atmosphere. Boeing builds and integrates major subcomponents of the SM-3, including the kinetic warhead guidance unit and ejection subsystem. The satellite contained about 1,000 pounds (453 kg) of hydrazine, a hazardous material that could have posed a danger to people.
Boeing receives full acceptance of its SBInet Project 28 border security prototype from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. A demonstration of the SBInet security solution, P28 networks cameras, radars, sensors and communications along 28 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border near Sasabe, Ariz.
News Release
Feb. 22, 2008
Boeing and partner Lockheed Martin announce the first multiyear sustainment contract to provide post-delivery support for the U.S. Air Force's F-22 Raptor fleet. Boeing's portion of the contract is $450 million for aircraft support in 2008 and 2009.
Feb. 24, 2008
Boeing, Virgin Atlantic and GE Aviation make history when a 747-400 flies from London to Amsterdam on a fuel mixture containing a plant-based sustainable biofuel. The fuel blend includes oils from Babassu nuts extracted from indigenous Brazilian plants, and coconuts from the Philippines. "We're making great strides in fuel efficiency, and we're pleased to add the development of next-generation biofuels to our set of possible solutions for aviation," says Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Jim McNerney.
News Release
Feb. 29, 2008
The U.S. Air Force chooses a proposal by Northrop Grumman and Airbus over one submitted by Boeing to build up to 179 air-to-air refueling tankers. The KC-X competition represents the second largest military procurement contract in history.
News Release
March 11, 2008
Boeing files a formal protest with the Government Accountability Office, citing irregularities with the process of the KC-X tanker competition and the evaluation of the competitors' bids.
News Release
Boeing launches an Australian branch of its Phantom Works advanced research and development unit to support Boeing businesses in Australia and to partner with researchers on mutually beneficial technologies. The new branch provides a centralized advanced R&D organization for Boeing's businesses in the country and serves as a focal point for continued collaboration with Australian universities, government and private sector researchers.
News Release
March 12, 2008
The University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Research Center, along with Boeing, wins the Queen's Anniversary Prize, a biennial award given to universities in the United Kingdom. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip present the award to representatives of the university and Boeing at Buckingham Palace.
March 19, 2008
Sea Launch successfully delivered the DIRECTV 11 broadcast satellite to orbit from its ocean-based platform on the equator, marking its fourth successful launch of a Boeing built DIRECTV satellite.
News Release
March 25, 2008
Boeing and the U.S. Army demonstrate for the first time that the software-defined Joint Tactical Radio System Ground Mobile Radios can receive data from unattended ground sensors and pass the data to vehicles equipped with the Future Combat Systems network integration system. The system provides soldiers with unprecedented situational awareness on the battlefield.
News Release
March 27, 2008
The first 777 Freighter, Boeing's newest cargo jet, enters a moving assembly line. The freighter is the first derivative to test the new 777 production system.
March 28, 2008
The U.S. Department of Defense announces a $10.4 billion, five-year contract for 167 V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. The contract includes 26 CV-22 aircraft for the Air Force Special Operations Command and 141 MV-22 aircraft for the U.S. Marine Corps. Boeing builds V-22 fuselages in Philadelphia and delivers them to Bell Helicopter Textron in Amarillo, Texas, for wing and tail section installation.