Boeing

While many of the 1998 headlines about The Boeing Company were focused on its commercial airplane production recovery and profitability in 1998, significant achievements were accomplished across each of the company's three major business areas - commercial airplanes, military aircraft and missiles, and space and communications.

"This has been a year of huge challenge for Boeing," said Phil Condit, chairman and chief executive officer. "But the people of Boeing have done a tremendous job of remaining focused and working together. That has paid off in a big way with product accomplishments of which we can all be proud.

"These extraordinary program achievements, across all product lines, once again prove that Boeing has the right people, and the right products, in the right markets," said Condit. "I firmly believe that our great company will define the future of aerospace in the 21st century."

Boeing: 1998 in Review

Commercial Airplane Highlights

767-400ER Set (January) - Firm design configuration set for extended-range derivative, paving way for initial delivery to Delta Air Lines in mid-2000.

3,000th 737 Classic Rolled Out (January) - Best-selling commercial airliner of all time first rolled out in January 1967.

757-300 Stretch Rolled Out (May) - Boeing's newest airliner took just 19 months from concept to reality; deliveries begin in March 1999.

737 Orders Climb Over 4,000; Smallest Member of Next-Generation 737 Makes First Flight (May) - As the workhorse of commercial airlines worldwide, one 737 takes off every six seconds, with an average of 825 737s in the air at all times. The Next-Generation 737-600 became the third of this four-member family to make its first flight in May.

Next-Generation 737 Orders Top 1,000 (September) - New 737 family becomes fastest-growing airliner program in history.

First Boeing Business Jets Delivered (November) - New business aircraft opens new era for size, comfort and utility.

717-200 Makes First Flight (September); TWA Places Big Order (December) - Boeing 100-passenger class twinjet scheduled for initial deliveries in mid-1999.

Boeing Poised to Deliver Record Number of Airplanes for the Year (December) - Company on track to deliver about 550 commercial jets - surpassing 1997's total of 375 by a wide margin.

Military Aircraft & Missiles HighlightsText

First Two 767 AWACS Aircraft Delivered to Japan (March) - Marks the first use of the 767 as platform for an Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems aircraft.

First Production SLAM ER Delivered to Navy (April) - First of 75 Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response missiles to be delivered this year accepted by the Navy.

First Delivery of AH-64D Apache Longbow Helicopter to an International Customer (May) - Multi-mission combat helicopter delivered to Royal Netherlands Air Force.

C-32 Aircraft Enters Service With Presidential Support Unit (June) - Military version of 757 brings new standard to executive airlift for the nation's special air missions unit at Andrews Air Force Base, Md.

First Production JDAM Delivered (June) - First production Joint Direct Attack Munition delivered to the Department of Defense; JDAM is a low-cost guidance kit that converts existing unguided, free-fall bombs to very accurate guided weapons.

Boeing Begins Assembly on Joint Strike Fighter Demonstrator (July) - Structural assembly began a month early on the first Boeing Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). In addition, Boeing is conducting a series of risk-reduction demonstrations in its bid to build the JSF for the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and the U.K. Royal Navy.

Airlift & Tanker Unit Wins Prestigious National Baldrige Quality Award (November) - Unit builds advanced C-17 transport for the U.S. Air Force.

First F/A-18 Super Hornet Production Aircraft Delivered to U.S. Navy (December) - Nation's newest fighter attack aircraft delivered early and under budget.

Space & Communications

Boeing Wins Lead System Integrator Position on National Missile Defense Program (April) - Under an initial, three-year $1.6 billion contract, Boeing will lead the NMD effort to develop a system capable of defending the nation against limited ballistic missile attack.

EELV Program Win Puts Boeing into Medium and Heavy Payload Launch Business (October) - Boeing wins lion's share of first U.S. Air Force Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program contract. Boeing share, valued at $1.8 billion, is for 19 launches using a new family of Delta rockets.

First Elements of International Space Station in Orbit (November/December) - Boeing-built Unity module joined to Russian-launched Zarya unit by Shuttle astronauts, as part of Boeing-led, 16-nation effort to establish first permanent research center in orbit.

Delta II Program Has 12 Successful Launches - Delta II adds to its record of success.