Second Quarter 2008
April 1, 2008
Boeing begins final assembly of the first P-8A Poseidon for the U.S. Navy as mechanics in Renton, Wash., began installing systems, wires, tubing and other small parts on the aircraft's fuselage section. Boeing Commercial Airplanes and Integrated Defense Systems are working together to build the P-8A, a military derivative of the 737-800.
News Release
Boeing's patent portfolio is ranked the strongest of any aerospace and defense company in the United States for the fifth quarter in a row, on the basis of its technology strength. The ranking is made by the Patent Board, an independent patent research and analysis group.
April 3, 2008
Boeing announces that it has, for the first time in aviation history, flown a manned airplane powered by hydrogen fuel cells. Boeing Research & Technology Europe in Madrid flew a modified two-seat Dimona motor-glider equipped with a battery hybrid system that powers an electric motor coupled to a conventional propeller. The effort includes industry partners from six countries.
News Release
April 9, 2008
The U.S. Force says it has fielded the second phase of a B-52 software block upgrade, which enables B-52 crews to track a moving target on the ground. The software enhancement represents a cost-effective upgrade to the B-52 fleet.
April 11, 2008
Boeing and ANA celebrate the inaugural flight of the first 767-300BCF (Boeing Converted Freighter). The airplane begins months of flight test and certification activities.
News Release
April 21, 2008
Boeing and United Kingdom-based QinetiQ Ltd. are awarded a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to create a new category of ultra-long-endurance, unmanned aircraft. Phase 1 of the Vulture program calls for developing technologies and, ultimately, a vehicle that can maintain an airborne payload on station for more than five years using a fixed-wing aircraft. Boeing later names its entry in the program SolarEagle.
News Release
April 22, 2008
Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire proclaims April 22 as "Employees Community Fund of Boeing Puget Sound Day" during a celebration at the United Way of King County in Seattle. The proclamation recognizes the ECF of Boeing Puget Sound's distribution of $500 million over the past 57 years.
News Release
April 23, 2008
Boeing and Airbus sign an agreement to work together to reduce the effects of aviation on the environment. The two companies focus on accelerating improvements to the world's air transportation management system to eliminate unnecessary traffic congestion.
News Release
April 24, 2008
Boeing announces a contribution of $5 million toward a new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. The contribution, in support of Boeing's Civic community investment objective, is for the museum's pre-design phase. The museum is scheduled to open in 2016.
News Release
Randy's Journal, the blog hosted by Randy Tinseth, Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president of Marketing, celebrates 1 million visitors. The blog turns four years old in January 2009.
April 28, 2008
Readers of Woman Engineer magazine rank Boeing No. 1 among U.S. companies for which they would most prefer to work. "This is a tribute to our Boeing Engineering team's efforts to establish an inclusive, creative culture that provides great opportunities and responsibilities to all engineers," says John Tracy, Boeing senior vice president of Engineering, Operations & Technology.
April 29, 2008
The first 777 Freighter moves out of the factory in Everett, Wash., and onto the flight line. The airplane's range capability will translate into significant savings for cargo operators: fewer stops and associated landing fees, less congestion at transfer hubs, lower cargo handling costs and shorter cargo delivery times.
News Release
May 2, 2008
Boeing completes carbon brake certification testing on its Next-Generation 737 airplanes. In comparison with today's standard, the new carbon brakes provide customers with a 550-700 pound (250-320 kg) weight savings, saving fuel and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Boeing offers the option on all new airplanes and a retrofit option for existing planes.
News Release
May 5, 2008
The government of Iraq announces an order for 30 Next-Generation 737-800 airplanes, the first step in re-establishing that country's scheduled commercial aviation operations. Iraq has contracted options for 10 additional 737s. The order is valued at $2.2 billion at list prices.
News Release
May 7, 2008
Employees in Renton, Wash., begin work on the first set of wings for a Boeing Business Jet 3. The jet is based on the Next-Generation 737-900ER (Extended Range) airplane and is sold primarily to government and private customers.
May 12, 2008
Boeing announces that the U.S. Air Force has placed the first Wideband Global SATCOM satellite into operation. It is the first operational SATCOM system supporting the government's transformational communications architecture.
News Release
May 15, 2008
Boeing makes a $250,000 corporate contribution to the American Red Cross to support relief efforts in China in the aftermath of an earthquake that killed tens of thousands of people. The company announces it will match employees' contributions as well.
May 19, 2008
Boeing announces its A160T Hummingbird unmanned rotorcraft flew for 18.7 consecutive hours, setting a world record for endurance for unmanned aerial vehicles in its weight class. The turbine-powered aircraft carried a 300-pound internal payload at altitudes up to 15,000 feet, landing with 90 minutes of fuel in reserve.
News Release
May 21, 2008
Boeing debuts the new 777 Freighter in Everett, Wash., for employees, suppliers, airline customers and community officials. Its customer base includes Air France; China Southern Airlines; Deucalion, which will lease to AeroLogic; Emirates; FedEx; GECAS; Guggenheim Aviation Partners; Korean Air; LAN Airlines; Oak Hill and Qatar Airways.
News Release
May 22, 2008
Boeing releases its 2008 Environment Report, noting that its manufacturing operations achieved significant improvements between 2002 and 2007. On a revenue-adjusted basis, Boeing reduced energy use and carbon dioxide emissions at its major facilities by 24 percent and hazardous waste by 30 percent. The company aims to improve fuel efficiency of each new generation of commercial airplane by 15 percent compared to the airplanes they replace.
News Release
May 31, 2008
Boeing and industry partners announce the formation of Algal Biomass Organization, a group that aims to accelerate the development and commercial application of algae biomass. Algae holds significant potential for use as jet fuel, fitting Boeing's plan to guide aviation toward commercially viable and sustainable fuel sources. Such fuels have substantially smaller greenhouse gas footprints and do not compete with food or require large quantities of land or fresh water resources.
June 4, 2008
The crews of space shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station install the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory on the orbital outpost. The module becomes the roomiest section of the station. Boeing is NASA's prime contractor for the ISS and a major subcontractor to United Space Alliance, the space shuttle operations contractor.
Boeing delivers the first fleet EA-18G Growler airborne electronic attack aircraft to the U.S. Navy's Electronic Attack Squadron 129 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash. The Navy's program of record calls for 85 Growlers.
News Release
June 6, 2008
Hawaiian Airlines announces it will expand its interisland fleet with the addition of four 717-200s to be leased from Boeing Capital Corporation. The carrier's fleet of 15 of the twinjets are all on long-term lease from BCC, the largest lessor of 717s.
The F-22 Raptor team opens an Agile Integration Lab designed to accelerate the integration of new capabilities under the Raptor avionics modernization program. The lab includes a ground-based facility interlinked electronically with a 757 flying testbed -- marking the first time a ground-based lab has been linked with a flying testbed in this way.
June 11, 2008
Boeing announces a finalized agreement to acquire Vought Aircraft Industries' interest in Global Aeronautica. The South Carolina fuselage sub-assembly facility for the 787 Dreamliner becomes a 50-50 joint venture between Boeing and Alenia North America.
News Release
Future Combat Systems rolls out its first Manned Ground Vehicle prototype -- the Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon -- in Washington, D.C. The NLOS-C is the first of a family of FCS Manned Ground Vehicles that will all employ hybrid propulsion systems, a common chassis, and maximize the use of common parts and subsystems. Overall, FCS vehicles will require less fuel and logistics support than current-force vehicles. Boeing and partner Science Applications International Corp. function as the Lead Systems Integrator for the Future Combat Systems program, the cornerstone of U.S. Army modernization.
News Release
June 17, 2008
Boeing, Singapore Technologies Aerospace Ltd. and ANA Cargo celebrate the completion and certification of the first 767-300BCF (Boeing-Converted Freighter). Boeing-Converted Freighters are an example of Boeing LIFECYCLE SOLUTIONS, a program to improve operational and environmental efficiencies through the entire life of the airplane.
News Release
June 18, 2008
The U.S. Government Accountability Office fully sustains Boeing's protest of the U.S. Air Force's KC-X tanker contract award. The decision includes seven major points for sustaining the company's protest -- and recommends the Air Force reopen discussions, obtain new proposals, re-evaluate the proposals and make a new source selection.
News Release
June 19, 2008
The Power On milestone is completed on the first 787 Dreamliner. Power On is a complex series of tasks and tests that bring electrical power onto the airplane and begin to exercise the use of the electrical systems. The 787 is a more-electric airplane with the pneumatic, or engine bleed air, system being totally replaced by electronics.
News Release
June 30, 2008
Legislation that includes $3.6 billion in funding for an additional 15 C-17 Globemaster III airlifters for the U.S. Air Force is signed into law. The funding is expected to extend C-17 production through August 2010.