In the early 2000s the 737 program moved office workers out of underutilized buildings and into new work areas in vacant space in the Renton factory. Putting support people next to the factory team assembling the airplanes helped to improve communication and reduce flow time, enabling employees to build airplanes more efficiently.
This photo series of 727-100s lining the ramp on the west side of Renton Municipal Airport highlights the early liveries of a number of well-known airlines in October 1966.
Even though production ended in September 1984, the 727 remains one of the greatest selling commercial jets in history with 1,832 delivered.
In 1970, as a response to a severe economic recession, Boeing consolidated all single-aisle programs in Renton. This photo, taken in November 1970 shows all three single-aisle models together for the first time including the 707, 727 and the very first Renton-built 737. Up to that time 737 final assembly was at the Thompson Site on Boeing Field, a facility originally built for assembly of the 737. The first Renton-built 737, line number 272, rolled out on November 17, 1970.
On January 13, 1982, the 757 rolled out at Renton as the replacement for the highly successful 727. The 757 was a pioneer in many ways. One of the first twinjets to use highly efficient high-bypass engines, the 757 was also designed with a two-crew flight deck that it shared with the 767, a first for large commercial jets. The 757 and 767 also pioneered the computerized "glass cockpit" for commercial jets, replacing dials and gauges with CRT screens. On November 28, 2005, Boeing concluded the remarkable 23-year run of the 757 with 1,050 produced.
Boeing saw an opportunity to cut production time by adopting the principles of Lean manufacturing. The Renton production system also evolved from putting airplanes in a slant, or angled, position in the factory to a nose-to-tail configuration. This enabled 737s to be produced on a pulse line or a moving line, much like the moving lines used to produce automobiles.
The 737-700 was the first of the Next Generation series
Rollout December 8, 1996
First Flight February 9, 1997
Renton has also been the home for production of both civil and military hydrofoil ships. Beginning with the U.S. Navy Hydrofoil Missileship USS Pegasus (PHM-1), launched in November 1974, Boeing employees produced five more Pegasus class ships — Hercules, Taurus, Aquila, Aries and Gemini between 1981 and 1982.
These were the first Boeing-built craft, and first hydrofoils, to be a commissioned as a United States Ship (USS).
Renton also produced commercial Jetfoil hydrofoils. Designed for passenger comfort at high speeds the standard configuration of the Jetfoil accommodated 250 passengers but design flexibility allowed variations for up to 350 seats.
Renton produced 24 Jetfoils between 1974 and 1985.
Engineers and mechanics on the 737 program collaborated to drastically reduce the number of parts that had to be assembled before installing systems in the wheel well of each 737. The result was a significant time savings and cost reduction on thousands of the world's best-selling commercial airplane — and all the 737s still on the company’s order books.
During engine build-up all systems needed to connect the engine to the wing and enable it to operate are installed. Engines used to arrive in the factory on a rail system, but the program switched to a tool that an operator can navigate through the factory and also use to raise and lower engines to prepare them for installation, including installing pre-assemblies.
At the beginning of 1967 the new 4-81 and 82 assembly buildings were ready to be occupied. Over a weekend in early January, Renton employees moved the entire 727 assembly line from the 4-21 to the 4-81, leaving behind the 707 as seen in this photo taken in May 1967.
A key driver of 737 MAX fuel savings is the new CFM LEAP-1B engine. The engine is designed for the rigors of the single-aisle operations and tailor-made for the 737 MAX. The chevrons at the back of the engine are designed to reduce noise.
New large flight-deck displays inside the first 737 MAX now come to life — glowing panels indicating that power is now coursing through the first airplane on the production line.
The new 737 MAX flight deck displays are exactly the same as the large 15-inch displays on the 787 Dreamliner. The flight deck is state-of-the-art today and provides the foundation to expand capabilities in navigation and data management, setting the stage for the next 20 years of advances in flight deck technologies.
The first flight of each new 737 model has changed significantly over the years as Boeing has developed new flight test processes. Brien Wygle, test pilot on the first-ever 737 flight, compares notes with Christine Walsh, the test pilot who flew the first flight of the new 737 MAX 9.
