100 years of Boeing

The only U.S. company still in the business of making jumbo jets is celebrating a big birthday, as Boeing turns 100. Starting with a canvas and wood airplane, the company has transformed travel over the years, building some of the world's largest airplanes that allow people to cross oceans.

In "Higher: 100 Years of Boeing," author Russ Banham chronicles Boeing's history.

Photo - On March 1, 1919, founder William Boeing (right) and Eddie Hubbard (left) completed the first international airmail flight between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia.

First model

Built in a boathouse on Seattle's Lake Union, the B&W pontoon seaplane was the first airplane model produced by William Boeing and his partner, Navy Lt. George Conrad Westervelt.

First office

Employees pose in front of Boeing's first office next to the Red Barn on the Duwamish River near Seattle.

Boeing 247D

The 247D, an all-metal, twin-engine aircraft considered to be the first modern passenger plane, flies over Manhattan, New York.

World War II

Demands for military airplanes during World War II led to an unprecedented increase in production for all American aviation companies.

Rosie the Riveter

In aviation factories, women replaced the men who were away fighting in World War II. By the war's end, over 40 percent of Boeing's workforce was female.

707 prototype

Workers celebrate the rollout of Dash 80, prototype for the 707, in Renton, Washington on May 14, 1954.

707

Advertisement for the new 707, which provided a quicker, smoother and more comfortable flight, featured families to assure passengers of the jet's safety.

747

Dubbed the "Queen of the Skies," the iconic 747 is known for its engineering achievements.

Father of the 747

Under Boeing engineer Joe Sutter's leadership, a team of employees known as "The Incredibles" took the 747 from the drawing board to production in 18 months.

747

The 747 was also known for its glamour, with a lounge, cocktail service and sometimes even a piano.

747

The 747 design allowed for cargo to be loaded through the hinged nose of the jet. The hump at the front of the 747 fuselage houses the cockpit and an upper deck.

Everett plant

Boeing's Everett plant was built to hold the 747. By volume, it is the largest building in the world.

757 and 767

The 767 (left) and 757 (right) were designed so that pilots, mechanics and other employees could be easily certified to work on both types of planes.

757 and 767

Among the shared features, the 757 and 767 both have computerized "glass" cockpits.

F/A-18

In 1986 the U.S. Navy designated Boeing's F/A-18 as the official Blue Angels jet.

Phantom Ray

Developed by Boeing Phantom Works, part of the company's Defense, Space & Security unit, a Phantom Ray unmanned vehicle prototype receives a pre-flight inspection.

777

The 777 was the first commercial jet to be designed completely digitally.

707 to 777

The entire 7-7 series of Boeing's jetliners were on display for the 787 Dreamliner's premiere. The airplanes were lined up numerically from the 707 (far right) to the 777 (far left).

From canvas to carbon-fiber wings

Over the course of 100 years, Boeing has gone from handcrafting small, canvas and wooden wings for biplanes (top) to producing high-tech carbon-fiber composite wings for the 787 Dreamliner (bottom).

787-8 Dreamliner

A 787-8 Dreamliner flies over the coast of Oregon. Boeing developed entirely new technology to make the Dreamliner more comfortable and fuel-efficient, but manufacturing delays put the airplane behind schedule. There was also a problem with overheating batteries, but the company redesigned the battery and now the Dreamliner is back in the sky.

"Higher: 100 Years of Boeing"

Boeing commemorates its 100 year-anniversary with "Higher" by Russ Banham.