Final Two Boeing 717s Delivered To Midwest, AirTran

The end has been in sight for some time... but commercial aircraft production at the former Douglas Aircraft plant in Long Beach, CA officially came to an end Tuesday, as Boeing delivered the last two 717-200 airliners to Midwest Airlines and AirTran Airways. The deliveries conclude commercial airplane production in Southern California that began in the 1920s with the Douglas Aircraft Co.

The 717 program -- Boeing's designation for the former MD-95 airliner that it inherited after buying out McDonnell Douglas in 1997 --  produced 156 100-seat airplanes over it decade-long production run.

Despite something of a reputation as the red-headed stepchild in the Boeing lineup (the 717 competed against the smaller versions of Boeing's own 737), on Tuesday Boeing put the best light on the now-orphaned program, saying it pioneered breakthrough business and manufacturing processes for Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

"Our production system is an industry benchmark because of the lean manufacturing and employee involvement practices we pioneered on the 717 in Long Beach," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally. "The 717 has forever redefined how we build airplanes. We're extremely proud of the airplane, our employees and our many supplier partners on the program."

The MD-95 program was launched by an order from AirTran Airways in 1995 -- and whatever its name, the airplane quickly became renowned by customers for its excellent economics, performance and reliability.

Douglas opened the Long Beach factory in 1941 as part of President Roosevelt's Arsenal of Democracy -- a request to the nation's industries to halt civilian production and assist in making wartime equipment. The facility produced almost 10,000 airplanes for World War II before transitioning to commercial airplane production after the war. Douglas merged with the McDonnell Aircraft Company in 1967, forming the McDonnell Douglas Corporation.

"Truly, it is our people who have acted with tremendous pride and have achieved all of these great accomplishments," said Pat McKenna, vice president and general manager of the 717 program. "They have done this not only on the 717 program but throughout the Douglas history."

More than 15,000 airplanes have been produced in the Long Beach factory. Across the parking lot from the former commercial aircraft plant, Boeing still assembles the C-17 Globemaster III military transport... a program that may be facing its own final days, with the White House insisting production of the heavy-lifter be terminated in 2008.

FMI: www.boeing.com