July 15
William Boeing Forms Pacific Aero Products, Precursor to Boeing
Summary
William E. Boeing, a Seattle businessman who had become interested in aviation after seeing early aircraft demonstrations, organized Pacific Aero Products Co. on July 15, 1916. The new company built aircraft and operated from the Seattle area, where Boeing and his collaborators developed a business around the young aviation industry. In 1917, Pacific Aero Products was renamed the Boeing Airplane Company as the United States entered the First World War. The firm continued producing aircraft after the war and gradually expanded its engineering, manufacturing, and commercial activities. The 1916 incorporation established the corporate lineage of the company now known as Boeing.
Why It Matters
The formation of Pacific Aero Products marks the beginning of one of the longest-running American aircraft manufacturers. It connects Seattle's early aviation industry to the later development of commercial air travel, military aircraft, and aerospace manufacturing. The event is also a useful starting point for distinguishing Boeing's corporate history from the much later public records and federal disclosures associated with the company.
Related Sites
- Gov Influence: Explore Gov Influence's current analysis of Boeing's reviewed federal lobbying disclosures and related public records.
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Sources
- Boeing History, Boeing. Accessed 2026-09-08.
- Boeing Company, Encyclopaedia Britannica. Accessed 2026-09-08.