Fully-Armed Boeing Strongly Represented on Hostile Turf

It may only be a war of words between Boeing and Airbus, but Boeing has come armed to the teeth to present itself at Le Bourget this year.

Although only here as an artist's rendering, the clear attention getter has been the Sonic Cruiser. The concept is making its first appearance at Paris or any major international air show. And there to defend the company's decision to abandon a head-to-head competition with the A380 and instead pursue an entirely new concept are vice-chairman Harry Stonecipher, Boeing Commercial Aircraft president and CEO Alan Mulally, and John Roundhill, VP for new airplane marketing.

Another international debut for the commercial side of the aircraft business is the 737-900. A Boeing Business Jet is taking its place here as well.

On the military side, Boeing has brought two F/A-18Fs, one for daily flying, the other for the static display. But probably more attention will focus on the full-scale model of its Joint Strike Fighter. Rounding out the fighter contingent here is a U.S. Air Force F-15E.

The fighters are being jointed by the C-17; the U.S. Navy's 737, called the C-40A; AH-64A and CH-47D helicopters, and on the munitions side, the Harpoon and SLAM-ER missiles.

Two new initiatives launched by Boeing only recently will also get a lot of play. One is Connexion, the inflight, broadband, satellite information service system that's already signing up customers. The other is Boeing's foray into air traffic management, with a heavy emphasis on satellite-based surveillance, navigation and communications.