January 14, 2005

THE LAST commercial airliner built in California will roll off the production line at the historic Douglas Aircraft plant in Long Beach sometime next year. Boeing has announced that it's haulting production of the 717 -- the most recent incarnation of the old DC-9.

I've had the pleasure of talking with a long time Douglas engineer about the glory days back when the company was run by founder Donald Douglas. Evidently things where never the same once the "suits" took over -- the business ethic of the company declined and a man's word and a handshake were no longer something to rely on. A common enough story, I'm sure. Posted by Greg Ransom | TrackBack