Boeing is a US aerospace and defence company that designs, manufactures and sells airplanes, rockets, missiles and satellites, as well as offering related equipment and services. Founded in Seattle in 1916 by William Boeing, the company started its life as Aero Products Company, but this was short-lived as it was renamed Boeing Airplane Company in 1917. In 1929, it acquired several aircraft makers, such as Avion, Chance Vought, Sirkosky, Pratt & Whitney and Hamilton Metalplane. Four of the company’s smaller airlines were merged into United Airlines in 1931, and in 1960, the company bought Vertol Aircraft Corporation, which at the time, was one of the world’s largest independent helicopter manufacturers. After this point, the company began to venture into areas such as space travel, marine craft, agriculture, energy production and transit systems. Previously chairman of the business, Pennsylvanian-born David L Calhoun has been the CEO of Boeing since 2020.