Boeing Is No Longer Based in Seattle And Is a Far More Versatile Company

Boeing is present in force at Asian Aerospace, its first major show following last year's relocation of the company's headquarters to Chicago. As well as unveiling the new 747-400X, Boeing is featuring the radical Sonic Cruiser prominently on its stand.

In the air, making its Singapore debut, is the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter. The Super Hornet is due to be declared operational with the U.S. Navy this year. Improved models with updated avionics are in the pipeline and Boeing has received clearance to brief export customers.

Boeing expects that Asia will remain the strongest commercial market in the world after the September 11 attacks. "Asia is least impacted," Boeing chairman Phil Condit said in late January. "China is still growing; Southeast Asia growing, with the only negative being traffic on the Pacific." Boeing expects to deliver 380 aircraft in 2002 and between 275 and 300 in 2003, and has sold two-thirds of next year's production.

Don't expect any order announcements from Boeing this week. The company is "not playing that game," a spokesman tells Show News, adding that Boeing will disclose orders as they are received and will not hold back to make news at air shows. Boeing is still smarting from criticism after last year's Paris show, when Airbus announced several major orders and Boeing logged only a handful of sales.

The move to Chicago symbolizes the emergence of a new Boeing in which space, communications and defense are on an equal footing with commercial airplanes. Boeing is persisting with its Connexion by Boeing "Internet in the sky" project, which blends Boeing's strengths in commercial airplanes, satellites and large integrated airborne systems.

Also present here are Boeing products which have featured prominently in Operation Enduring Freedom. The C-17 transport has been the workhorse in a campaign where everything-including food and water-has been flown into the theater. Boeing is about to receive a multi-year contract for 40 more C-17s, and more orders are expected. The B-1B bomber has seen a great deal of action, and the Joint Direct Attack Munition-now in full production-has been used in thousands.