Boeing Strengthens Position As Aerospace Industry Leader At Paris Air Show

KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 (Bernama) -- Boeing strengthened its position as the aerospace industry's leader in innovation and technology at a highly successful 2015 Paris Air Show. "Innovation is the heart of our strategy," said Boeing Vice Chairman, President and Chief Operating Officer Dennis Muilenburg. "It is what differentiates us, not only from existing competitors, but also from competitors of the future. We have more research, development and capital projects underway and are bringing innovation to market faster than at any time in our history. "This innovation is helping drive our customers' success and we were able to demonstrate that with the products we brought to the show," he added, in a statement on Thursday. Customers showed their confidence in the Boeing commercial product lineup via the additional orders posted Friday on the Boeing Orders & Deliveries website, including 21 Next-Generation 737s for unidentified customers. Customers announced orders and commitments during the week for a total of 331 Boeing airplanes, valued at US$50.2 billion at list prices. Boeing and the government of Qatar announced the signing of an agreement to purchase four more C-17 Globemaster III airlifters. These aircraft will join the Qatar Armed Forces' (QAF) existing fleet of four and help meet their ongoing airlift requirements. Boeing's newest commercial jetliner, a 787-9 Dreamliner for Vietnam Airlines, was a highlight of the flying display. A video featuring air-to-air footage of its air show rehearsal has received nearly 10 million views on YouTube alone. Also on display at the show were a Qatar Airways 787-8 and a China Airlines 777-300ER with its award-winning cabin interior. A virtual 3-D tour of the airplanes powered by a Google Box 360 application attracted many visitors. The US Department of Defence corral featured a P-8A anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare aircraft (shown for the first time in Le Bourget), CH-47F Chinook and AH-64 Apache helicopters and an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter. Boeing is focused on execution and remains on track to deliver between 750 and 755 airplanes in 2015, a new industry record. Upcoming commercial development programme milestones scheduled before the end of this year include the factory rollout of the 737 MAX and firm configuration of the 777X. -- BERNAMA