Boeing Model 2

The Boeing Model 2, introduced in 1919, was the company's first post‑World I commercial aircraft and a pivotal step in Boeing’s transition from military contracts to civil aviation. Designed by the young team led by William E. Boeing, the two‑seat biplane featured a 150‑horsepower Hall‑Scott A‑7 engine, a fabric‑covered wooden frame, and interchangeable wheels or floats for land‑ and sea‑based operations. Its upright cockpit and simple, robust controls made it popular with early airmail pilots and flight schools, while its modest 200‑kilometre range demonstrated the feasibility of reliable short‑haul services. Only fifteen examples were built, but the Model 2 proved the viability of an American‑manufactured transport aircraft and helped secure the lucrative United States mail contract that kept Boeing afloat during the post‑war recession. The aircraft’s straightforward construction also served as a testbed for innovations such as improved aileron design and more efficient fuel‑distribution systems, concepts that were later incorporated into the iconic Boeing Model 40 and subsequent commercial line. Though few survive today, the Model 2 remains a significant milestone, marking Boeing’s emergence as a major player in the nascent civil aviation industry world.

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