I moved from Michigan to Seattle in 1966 to go to work for Boeing. I hardly had a clue who they were - I knew they made bombers and the 707. I hired in as a Systems Analyst. I also had no clue what that was - neither did they! The pay was good. I was very fortunate to work my entire career for the Commercial Airplanes part - not the Military. During my time the 707, 727, 737, 747, 757, 767, and 777 all were in production at one time or another. (There never was a commercial 717 until after Boeing bought McDonnel Douglas and essentially renamed the old DC 9 as the 717 - what a sad use of the number.) I saw the first flight of the 747 - absolutely unbelievable at the time! The best part about working there for me? -- you wore a badge. Even though Boeing is a huge place with many many facilities and buildings and stuff, you could go, with that badge, in any non military-classified facility, anywhere, as long as you did not go "outside the lines" and interfere with the work. No questions asked! I was a desk jockey but that guy in blue pants and shirt could be me on a little "break" tour! You have not lived until you walked through the wing-riveting shop!Hey, Benji ... did you know that about RG? (Do you care??)
Well Goldie - I know thay have had a LOT of trouble with that 787, since RG left 'em. I'm just sayin' ....
14 comments:
That's pretty cool. My maternal grandfather worked for American Airlines and some of my earliest memories are of air travel. Consequently, I've always loved planes and been comfortable with flying and with navigating airports.
They've made the experience unpleasant in recent years, though, so I now avoid flying if at all possible. I still watch planes when they fly over, though, with the same excitement I had as a kid. Wonderful things, and lucky you to have been a part of it!
DKM's dad, our Popi, worked for McDonnel Douglass - but on rocket ships.
must have been an iteresting place to work. My grandfather was in the RAF (Royal Air Force) but I rarely fly.
Wow, RG. That's pretty cool. My brother-in-law worked for NASA here in Huntsville from 1956 until he retired in the '80's. Lots of folks we know worked for Boeing and the other NASA contractors on many different projects (and my husband has been a Teledyne employee for 22 years). It's been neat to see all the development over the years. I'll think of you whenever I see those jets coming and going.
Ahh well this explains how ten bunnies obtained an airliner and regularly run bunny tours.
From Boeing to Bunnies...we think you have a very different job now!
Wow, that sounds like a very interesting job! It must have been a rough transition into retirement (or did you just change jobs?)
Congrats on your 787th post!
BL also worked for Boeing in Huntsville in the late 60's a child!) and later in Seattle.
Neither of us like to fly anymore either.
Retirement was not too hard since things had changed so much by then. I do remember Alan Mullaly and had dinner with him once - I can see why he has been somewhat succesful with FORD.
When I see a Boeing go over, I just think "Well, retirement is all set for another few months!"
Of course the buns care. That job/retirement keeps them in greens. Lol. I used to LOVE to fly, not anymore.
I'm thinking the wing-riveting must have been....riveting.
Bwahahahaha.
Seems like it must have been a good company to work for. It's a shame what's happened to that industry, and about everything else. Flying isn't at all fun any more--I used to love to fly. Now I'd rather drive or stay home. We stay home a lot more, partly because of the buns--it's tricky to find a bun-sitter when we want to leave at the same time.
Really! Wow! I watched that out of my living room window in Renton. It was kind of far away, but we were up high enough, as I recall. But I was pretty small. Dad worked for Boing then. He moved us to San Jose to go to SJSU, then to Tucson to go to UA, then to Fremont, CA when he took his PhD to Lockheed. He is retired also. He has no rabbits, but he lives with mom, so it's like having a squirrel.
Ankles
What will the next significant number be?
Great story RG!
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