West Orange County Features - The Boeing Company RSS Feed

More Voices Call to End C-17 Funding � Congressman Dana Rohrabacher Continues His Support

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 06:00:00 Pacific Time

Beginning with the last Bush Administration, and continuing today, production of the Boeing C-17, which employs about 5,000 workers at the final assembly plant in Long Beach, has been the subject of an annual budget battle in Washington D.C. Earlier this week, two U.S. Senators held hearings to put the military on record about how many planes are needed in the fleet.

Gates Continues to Pummel C-17 Defenders With Veto Threats�Round 6

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 06:00:00 Pacific Time

Last week and over the weekend, the Obama Administration C-17 Challengers, led by Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, continued to land blow after blow in the annual boxing match over the fate of the C-17 and the 5,000 Long Beach workers who assemble the big jets. The Obama Administration wants to end production after the 223 which are already in service or in the pipeline. Boeing, its friends in congress and everywhere else are doing everything they can to continue building the profitable four engine advanced airlifters.

Huntington Beach Boeing Team Still Basking in Hypersonic Success�Partially�Program Manager Optimistic

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 06:00:00 Pacific Time

It flew for less than three minutes and �only� hit about mach 5, but for the Huntington Beach Boeing Phantom Works team, it is a major success. Boeing, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, and the U.S. Air Force held a press briefing yesterday on the record setting hypersonic flight last week of the X-51A test flight vehicle.

President Obama Fires Crushing Blow to Long Beach C-17 Workforce�Round 5

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Mon, 31 May 2010 06:00:00 Pacific Time

The C-17 defenders took their heaviest blow yet in this ongoing boxing match between those who want to continue production of the military�s four engine cargo jet, and the Obama Administration, who wants to end the program at the 223 planes already in the pipeline.

Huntington Beach Boeing Team Achieves Major Hypersonic Flight Milestone

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Wed, 26 May 2010 16:18:00 Pacific Time

Although the flight did not last as long or hit the mach 6 speed anticipated, Boeing�s Huntington Beach cutting edge research unit�Boeing Phantom Works�today achieved a major milestone in sustained hypersonic flight. After seven years in development, the X-51A WaveRider, built by the local Boeing team, achieved mach 5 in a 200 second test flight over the Pacific Ocean.

C-17 Defenders Take Another Hit From Secretary of Defense�Round 4

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Tue, 11 May 2010 06:00:00 Pacific Time

Last Saturday, as expected, Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates hit the C-17 cargo plane defenders with another left jab to the chin. In this match up, the Challengers are the Obama Administration, who wants to end production funds for Boeing�s C-17 Globemaster III advanced airlifter, which is assembled in Long Beach by about 5,000 skilled workers. The Defenders are just about everybody else in Washington DC, who wants to continue paying for more of the heavy airlifters.

Local Boeing Teams Build Latest Unmanned Space Plane�Circles the Globe in 90 minutes

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 06:00:00 Pacific Time

Is it a miniature space shuttle�a satellite�or an unmanned plane? Answer�yes. Whatever it is, it�s classified by the U.S. Air force. It was built by Boeing in Huntington Beach and is now on its first flight, circling the earth every 90 minutes. The craft is so secret, the Air Force will not even say when it will land.

C-17 Defenders Suffer Stinging Blow from Secretary of Defense�Round 3

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 06:00:00 Pacific Time

Round 3 in the annual budget boxing match between C-17 Defenders and those who want to stop production, the Challengers, ended with a stinging left hook to the jaw of the Defenders. In this match up, the Challengers are the Obama Administration, who wants to end production funds for Boeing�s C-17 Globemaster III advanced airlifter, which is assembled in Long Beach by about 5,000 skilled workers. The Defenders are just about everybody else in Washington DC, who wants to continue paying for more of the heavy airlifters.

Another Successful Satellite Deployment for the Local Boeing Crew�First Signals from Space

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:00:00 Pacific Time

Boeing [NYSE: BA] announced it has received the first on-orbit signals from the third Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) built by Boeing in El Segundo for NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The satellite, GOES-P, is healthy and ready to begin thruster firings to move to its on-orbit test location.

Boeing Tries to Slow the Clock in the Boxing Match for the Fate of the C-17�Round 2

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 07:00:00 Pacific Time

In a bid to buy time, Boeing recently announced it is slowing C-17 production at its Long Beach final assembly plant. With the Obama Administration trying to end production of the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III advanced airlifter, the company wants to keep the line operating as long as possible with the dwindling number of firm orders already in the books. Boeing employs about 5,000 locals to build the planes and the recent decision could cause layoffs.

The Boxing Match to End C-17 Production�Round 1�The Fight Begins�Again

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 07:00:00 Pacific Time

The Obama Administration, the Challengers, recently unveiled their proposed defense budget for the next fiscal year, which begins on October 1, 2010. Just like last year, once again they want to end production of the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III advanced airlifters, and once again, most elected officials that are speaking up, the Defenders, give the idea a strong right jab. Hanging in the balance are the jobs of about 5,000 Boeing Long Beach employees who assemble the big four engine cargo planes.

Round 15 in the Fight for the Boeing C-17 Production Line and Its 5,000 Long Beach Jobs--a Continuing Monday Morning series

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:00:00 Pacific Time

The fiscal 2010 defense budget bill continues to work its way through the legislative process�with 10 additional C-17s included. Also included, however, is the veto bait second engine for the joint strike fighter, the F-35. When the senate passed their bill earlier this month, they avoided including the big three veto threat programs that the Obama Administration does not want. But, when the House passed the conference committee report, the second engine was included.

Round 14 in the Fight for the Boeing C-17 Production Line and Its 5,000 Long Beach Jobs--a Continuing Monday Morning series

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 06:00:00 Pacific Time

With last week�s senate passage of the 2010 defense budget, there are only two short rounds left in this match up between the Obama Administration C-17 challengers, and the Defenders of the large military airlifter. The next round, expected soon, will be the conference committee to reconcile the Senate and House versions. Then, the final round, President Obama�s signature.

Round 13 in the Fight for the Boeing C-17 Production Line and Its 5,000 Long Beach Jobs--a Continuing Monday Morning series

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:00:00 Pacific Time

Last Thursday, the government�s new fiscal year began�with no defense budget. The C-17 Challengers, this time led by Republican Senator John Mccain, came out swinging, but the Defenders of the heavy airlift military planes, through up a good block, and the Challengers lost yet another round in this continuing budget match up. It has been reported that Mccain will try again to kill the C-17 this Tuesday.

Round 12 in the Fight for the Boeing C-17 Production Line and Its 5,000 Long Beach Jobs--a Continuing Monday Morning series

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 06:00:00 Pacific Time

It wasn't in the New York Times, or the Los Angeles Times, or on any other mainstream news source. It wasn't covered by any of the other local media outlets which typically cover Long Beach's C-17, and it was not even on the White House web site, but, nevertheless, last week there was a major blow and a near complete victory, in the C-17 budget boxing match up. At this point, the Obama administration Challengers are tottering back and forth and just about to fall to their knees in complete defeat. The cause of this impending defeat is not a crushing blow from the C-17 Defenders, but rather, a basic surrender--throwing in the towel.

Round 11 in the Fight for the Boeing C-17 Production Line and Its 5,000 Long Beach Jobs--a Continuing Monday Morning series

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 06:00:00 Pacific Time

With the end of the government's fiscal year only 8 days away, Boeing turns up the lobbying heat and the climax of the C-17 fiscal 2010 budget boxing match is approaching. As another C-17 is delivered to the European alliance, Boeing uses Facebook, YouTube, an on-line petition, and a dedicated web site, to rally its cause. A vote could come this week.

Round 10 in the Fight for the Boeing C-17 Production Line and Its 5,000 Long Beach Jobs--a Continuing Monday Morning series

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:00:00 Pacific Time

This round goes to the C-17 Defenders, in a clear and decisive victory. The end of this C-17 budget boxing matchup is fast approaching. It has been widely reported that the Senate appropriations committee passed a budget bill with funding for 10 more of the big planes, but that might not be the most important blow in this match.

Round 9 in the Fight for the Boeing C-17 Production Line and Its 5,000 Long Beach Jobs--a Continuing Monday Morning series

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 06:00:00 Pacific Time

After all the excitement of two weeks ago, things have been pretty quiet in the C-17 budget boxing matchup. With the congress still on vacation, and everybody talking about healthcare, there was not much focus on the big planes and their budget. Still, there are a few interesting items to note, and then we will present a useful overview on how these planes are actually used--written by two of the USAF pilots who fly them.

So. Calif Boeing Unit Breaks World Solar Cell Record

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 06:00:00 Pacific Time

Southern California based Boeing subsidiary Spectrolab Inc., announced yesterday that a solar cell it manufactured has set a new world record for terrestrial concentrator solar cell efficiency--what on earth does that mean?. The cell can convert 41.6 percent of concentrated sunlight into electricity. The local team takes the record away from the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany, whose previous world record cell was able to convert 41.1%. The world record was validated by the U.S. Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo., which independently tested the efficiency of the Spectrolab cell.

Round 8 in the Fight for the Boeing C-17 Production Line and Its 5,000 Long Beach Jobs--a Continuing Monday Morning series

Dolores Barr, Editor and Publisher — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 06:00:00 Pacific Time

The U.S. Congress is still on vacation, but--let the next round begin anyway!

Grab your seat, the C-17 budget boxing match between the Challengers and the Defenders is--shall we say--back in full swing? For those new to these pages, the Challengers are the Obama Administration, represented by the President himself, Secretary of Defense , Robert M. Gates, a few brave congressional representatives, and a host of others. The Defenders, include numerous elected officials--from U.S. Senators, to more humble folks, The Boeing Company, union leaders, and almost everybody else. Also, there are your Editors who are simply trying to make some sense of it all. The Challengers want to end production of everybody's favorite big plane--the C-17 Globemaster III heavy airlifter. The Defenders want to keep building the last large military airlifter still produced in the U.S. About 5,000 workers (and presumably, voters) assemble the big planes at Boeing's plant in Long Beach.