Has the Boeing Co. joined the Thousand Club for the third year in a row?

This morning, Boeing reported it has won 956 firm commercial jet orders through Nov. 6.

Also today, Cathay Pacific Airways says it has placed orders for 17 jets –7 Boeing 777s and 10 747-8 Freighters. This order isn’t included in Boeing’s Nov. 6 year-to-date tally, bringing its order total for 2007 to 973.

That would leave Boeing 27 orders shy of 1,000.

However, the aerospace company has several tentative deals in the works, including talks with British Airways and Vietnam Airlines are for 24 and 12 Dreamliners respectively.

Boeing notes orders for 46 unidentified 787s on its Web site. The company had listed the bulk of those before either British Airways or Vietnam Airlines announced their tentative orders.

Given the number of potential deals – both published and unpublished – out there, it’s likely Boeing will top 1,000 orders this year.

The real question is: How many net orders will Boeing have in its bag by the end of 2007?

Send me an email with your best guess. Boeing will announce its official numbers in January. First correct guess (2007 net orders) wins.

I’ve got a drawer full of loot – 787 hats, fancy pens, toy airplanes, etc. – that I need to start doling out. Winner gets his or her choice.