The Boeing Company was founded in 1916. It was a response to a growing interest in air power by the military. The primary focus of the company was the development of military jets. However, what made a company great fame and success was the introduction of commercial aircraft. We introduced the world's first successful long-range commercial plane. We continued to build on the success by making a mid-range B-727, short-range B-737, and then with the introduction of B-747.
Transformation of Boeing from a mostly commercial airplane company to an enterprise that would capture all aspects aerospace business started in 1996 with acquisition of Rockwell Aerospace. This transformation continued with successful acquisition of McDonnell Douglas in 1997 and purchase of Hughes Space and Communications and Jeppesen Sanderson in 2000.
Our business strategy and commitment to our vision made us the biggest and the most balanced aerospace company of the world. We are also the largest exporter of the United States. Boeing Company together with its subsidiaries operates in three principal segments: Commercial Airlines, Military Aircraft and Missiles, and Space and Communications. Every day more than three million people travel on our airplanes, 335 satellites put into orbit by Boeing pass overhead and 6,000 military aircrafts stand on guard with military forces of the untied States and twenty other countries. Boeing has more than 6,000 patents. We have major operations in 26 states at home, Canada and Australia and our customers can be found in 145 countries of the world. Our products are greatly diversified among all aspects of aerospace industry. We will continue to grow and be the best in what we do.
"We will be a world-class leader in every aspect of our business -- in developing our team leadership skills at every level; in our management performance; in the way we design, build and support our products; and in our financial r...