Boeing

Aerospace is an intensely nationalist business. But not only do aircraft makers get tied up in international political dogfights, such battle lines are drawn between states as well. Witness the just-completed competition between blue state Boeing and red state Airbus.

Boeing has won a U.S. military contract to build an aerial refueling tanker, beating out rival European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co.

The U.S. trade gap widened to just under $500 billion in 2010, but that obscures impressive growth in global sales of U.S. goods. And the outlook for 2011 is even better. Still, to reach a trade surplus, America must solve two serious problems.

Boeing (BA) unveiled the new 747-8 Intercontinental jet Sunday, which can seat as many as 500 people. The new plane has 12% lower costs per seat than the 747-400, Boeing said in a statement. The plane will also emit 16% less carbon. "As the only airplane in the 400 to 500-seat market, the 747-8...

Boeing Co. (BA) said on Wednesday that its 2011 profit will be hurt by delays to its new 787 and higher pension expenses. The airplane builder and defense company also said its fourth-quarter profit fell 8 percent to $1.16 billion. Revenue dropped 8 percent to $16.55 billion. Boeing shares fell...

If we measure competitiveness by profits and cash balances, domestic companies have never been stronger. Unfortunately, that competitiveness has come out of the hides of the country's workers -- nearly 15 million of whom are out of work.

After Boeing announced yet another -- the seventh -- delay in the first delivery of the innovative 787 passenger jet, it's now clear that Boeing's decision to outsource both the design and manufacturing of the plane was more than it could manage.