Boeing

CHICAGO, Aug. 27 -- The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) today announced that the first flight of the 787 Dreamliner is expected by the end of 2009 and first delivery is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2010.

The new schedule reflects the previously announced need to reinforce an area within the side-of-body section of the aircraft, along with the addition of several weeks of schedule margin to reduce flight test and certification risk. The company projects achieving a production rate of 10 airplanes per month in late 2013.    » read more »

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., July 1, 2009 -- An industry team led by The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has received a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for work on Phase 2 of the Fast Access Spacecraft Testbed (FAST) program. The $15.5 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract is currently funded to $13.8 million.

DARPA's FAST program aims to develop a new, ultra-lightweight High Power Generation System (HPGS) that can generate up to 175 kilowatts -- more power than is currently available to the International Space Station. When combined with electric propulsion, FAST will form the foundation for future self-deployed, high-mobility spacecraft to perform ultra-high-power communications, space radar, satellite transfer and servicing missions.    » read more »

MESA, Ariz., June 23, 2009 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that the AH-64D Apache Block III prototype helicopter successfully demonstrated Level IV unmanned aircraft system (UAS) connectivity on June 8 during a flight test over the Arizona desert.    » read more »

EVERETT, Wash., June 23 -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) today announced that first flight of the 787 Dreamliner will be postponed due to a need to reinforce an area within the side-of-body section of the aircraft.

The need was identified during the recent regularly scheduled tests on the full-scale static test airplane. Preliminary analysis indicated that flight test could proceed this month as planned. However, after further testing and consideration of possible modified flight test plans, the decision was made late last week that first flight should instead be postponed until productive flight testing could occur.    » read more »

ST. LOUIS, June 22, 2009 – The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has completed its acquisition of eXMeritus Inc., a Fairfax, Va.-based company that provides hardware and software to federal government and law enforcement organizations for sharing information securely across classified and unclassified networks and systems.

eXMeritus will operate within Boeing Integrated Defense Systems' Network and Space Systems unit. The acquisition, announced on June 15, 2009, is part of Boeing's strategy to expand its presence in the cyber and intelligence markets. Terms of the transaction are not being disclosed.    » read more »

Murray Demands Halt to Illegal, Unfair Airbus Subsidies in Letter to E.U.; Calls subsidies "trade-distorting," "completely unacceptable," and "a major step in the wrong direction"

June 16, 2009 -- (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) sent a letter to Ambassador John Bruton, head of the Delegation of the European Commission to the U.S, expressing deep concern over reports that Airbus is seeking $5 billion in additional launch aid from four European Union countries, and urging an end to Airbus subsidies.    » read more »

PARIS, June 17, 2009 – The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] will dedicate funding to further development of the F-15 Silent Eagle program, with the goal of a flight demonstration in the third quarter of 2010. The announcement came at the Paris Air Show following meetings with potential customers and reaffirmed a commitment to the prototype program made by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems President and CEO Jim Albaugh at the air show on June 14.    » read more »

EVERETT, Wash., June 17 -- Final assembly has begun on the first Boeing (NYSE: BA) 787 Dreamliner destined for delivery to launch customer ANA (All Nippon Airways) of Japan.

ANA and Boeing launched the 787 program with a firm order for 50 of the all-new composite jetliner. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2010.

Boeing and ANA celebrated the occasion with a traditional "Kagami wari" ceremony, the breaking open of a wooden "Taru" (sake barrel) lid with wooden mallets.    » read more »

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., June 16, 2009 – The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has successfully completed integration and testing of the space segment, as well as initial testing of the ground segments, of the Space Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) system under development for the U.S. Air Force. Completion of these milestones confirms that the space vehicle and ground segments meet requirements for the first SBSS mission.

When launched, the SBSS system will revolutionize the United States' space situational awareness by providing around-the-clock visibility to detect distant space objects without interference from weather, atmosphere or daylight.    » read more »

Fuels derived from sustainable biomass sources meet aviation requirements

LE BOURGET, France, June 17 -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) and a team from across the aviation industry today released high-level elements of a study that shows that sustainable biofuels analyzed in a series of pioneering test flights performed favorably in comparison to petroleum-based fuel.

According to the study, Evaluation of Bio-Derived Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (Bio-SPK), a series of laboratory, ground and flight tests conducted between 2006 and 2009 indicated the test fuels performed as well as or better than typical petroleum-based Jet A. The testing included several commercial airplane engine types using blends of up to 50 percent petroleum-based Jet A/Jet A-1 fuel and 50 percent sustainable biofuels.    » read more »

LE BOURGET, France, June 17 -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) and MC Aviation Partners (MCAP), a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corp., have finalized an order for two Next-Generation 737-800s valued at $153 million at list prices.

The order represents MCAP's first direct purchase of airplanes from Boeing.

"We are delighted that we signed a purchase agreement with Boeing for two 737-800s. We consider this a very memorable event for MCAP and Boeing. These aircraft will be leased to Skymark Airlines Inc. in Japan," said Tatsuo Sato, CEO, MCAP.    » read more »

LE BOURGET – June 16, 2009 -- Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has selected the GEnx-1B engine to power its new fleet of 35 Boeing 787-9 aircraft and 10 GE90-115B-powered Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

The total value of both engine orders is worth $2.2 billion (USD) list price. Additionally, the airline holds options for 25 Boeing 787 aircraft and 10 Boeing 777-300ERs with purchase rights for a further 10 Boeing 787 and five Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

Etihad Airways has also signed a multi-year OnPointSM solution agreement with GE Aviation for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of its entire firm GEnx and GE90 engine fleet. The OnPoint solution agreement is valued at more than $1.7 billion (USD) over the life of the agreement.    » read more »

AMARILLO, Texas, June 15, 2009 – The Bell Boeing Program Office announced today that it has been awarded Phase 1.5 of a two-phase Joint Performance Based Logistics (PBL) contract from the U.S. Department of Defense to support the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft for the Marine Corps (MV-22), and Air Force Special Operations Command (CV-22).    » read more »

PARIS, June 15, 2009 – Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced the formation of an Unmanned Airborne Systems (UAS) division within its defense and space business unit. The new division will lead the company's sustained pursuit and execution of UAS business and the transition of new products from research to production.

The UAS division will assume program management responsibility for the A160T Hummingbird, Unmanned Little Bird and SolarEagle (Vulture) programs. Insitu Inc., a wholly owned Boeing subsidiary that manufactures the ScanEagle and Integrator unmanned aerial systems, will report to the new division.    » read more »

ST. LOUIS, June 15 -- The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) today announced it has signed an agreement to acquire eXMeritus, Inc., a Fairfax, Va.-based company that provides hardware and software to federal government and law enforcement organizations for sharing information securely across classified and unclassified networks and systems.

eXMeritus' products are certified and accredited by the U.S. government to perform this function on its most trusted systems. The decision to buy eXMeritus complements last year's acquisitions of Digital Receiver Technology, Ravenwing and Kestrel Enterprises. These acquisitions are key moves in the company's strategy to expand its presence in the cyber and intelligence markets.    » read more »