Boeing

Boeing announced that it has completed final assembly of its first 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The 737 MAX 8 is Boeing’s answer to European competitor Airbus’ A320neo jetliner, the first of which is to be delivered to Qatar Airways before year’s end. Read more >>

In an event attended by hundreds of Boeing employees and aviation enthusiasts, the last Boeing C-17 Globemaster cargo aircraft built at the manufacturer’s Long Beach, California, facility completed a flyover of Long Beach Airport before heading to San Antonio, where its new owner, the Qatar government, will pick it up in early 2016. This C-17 Globemaster is notable for being the last civilian or military aircraft to be built in the state of California-at least for now. Read more >>

The world’s leading designer and manufacturer of high technology batteries for industry has been awarded five new contracts from Boeing to build Li-ion batteries for four of Boeing’s current GEO communication satellite programs. French battery maker Saft will provide a steady and consistent supply of Li-ion batteries to power Boeing's satellites when solar rays are blocked by Earth during the geosynchronous orbit (GEO) mission for the next 5 years. Saft is a world leader in the design and manufacture of advanced technology batteries for industrial and defense applications. Read more >>

The Boeing Company has recently completed a successful upgrade of all of the United States Air Force F-22 Raptor Mission Training Centers. All of these training centers have been equipped with Boeing’s high-fidelity constant resolution visual systems (CRVS). This new system is designed in order to provide pilots with a training experience that offers a more realistic visual environment in comparison to already existing simulators. The final CRVS installation was completed at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida by the United States Air Force and Boeing. Read more >>

On September 25, 2015, Boeing’s first fully equipped KC-46A tanker is scheduled to make its first flight. The executive officer for the Air Force tanker programs, Brigadier General Duke Richardson, stated that despite previous schedule delays, the tanker program was doing well overall. At the annual Air Force Association conference, Richardson stated, "We are definitely struggling with schedule, but I can tell you we are not struggling with performance." Read more >>

Boeing has recently been awarded a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for its new type of unmanned aerial drone which has the capabilities of converting into a small submarine. This drone, if ever built, will be adaptable for both water and flight travel as it has been designed to rapidly deploy in water or air. The water and air vehicle would be powered by a propeller, wing, and stabilizer. Launching this vehicle would require a large carrier aircraft in order to reach the deployment area. The remotely piloted aerial drone would then detach from the carrier aircraft, at which point it would operate on its own with the option of diving into the water. Read more >>