Boeing

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA], with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Coast Machinery Movers, moved the historic Reagan Air Force One airplane into its new home today. The Boeing 707, which served as President Reagan's flying White House, will be reassembled by a Boeing-Long Beach crew for display as the centerpiece of the new Air Force One Pavilion being built on the Reagan Library site. The plane will be reassembled by the end of this year.

The ceremony marked the start of putting the aircraft back together after it was disassembled, moved 100 miles overland, and stored until the pavilion could receive it for reassembly. The historic Boeing 707 flew for 28 years in presidential service as an Air Force One. In addition to supporting the Reagan presidency, the aircraft also flew in service for presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and both presidents Bush. One of its missions was flying President Reagan home to California after he left office in January 1989. Reagan used this airplane extensively on 211 missions during his eight years in the White House.

"The Boeing Company is proud to be a partner with the Reagan Foundation on Operation Homeward Bound," said Rudy deLeon, senior vice president for Boeing Washington, D.C. Operations. "We're honored to have presidential aircraft in our fleet, and we're happy to assist in this historic project."

At the Reagan Library's request, Boeing -- California's largest private employer and original manufacturer of the Boeing 707 -- agreed to lead "Operation Homeward Bound," and move the airplane from San Bernardino Calif. to the Reagan Library in Simi Valley. Boeing had to disassemble the aircraft into its major parts to get it safely to the library site.

"We supply or coordinate all necessary resources -- equipment, tools, technical expertise and labor -- throughout the process to disassemble, transport and reassemble the aircraft," said John Bouza, Boeing director for the Air Force One project.

The airplane arrived at the library in June 2003. The Air Force One Pavilion is being planned for a mid-2005 grand opening.

Bouza, director of supply chain operations for Boeing's C-17 Program in Long Beach , has been leading the Boeing team as part of Operation Homeward Bound since beginning aircraft disassembly on March 22, 2002 .

"I want to ensure that we reassemble the airplane to museum quality, and that the finished project reflects the pride that The Boeing Company and its employees have toward this airplane and its significance to America's heritage," Bouza said.

Boeing also built the two current Air Force One aircraft, 747-200s, as well as the C-32s (commercially known as 757s) that transport the vice president and other senior U.S. government officials.