Airport director George Petrie (left)and Don Bakken, a member of the Snohomish County Airport Commission, at Paine Field. Robert Best, Everett Herald publisher, and Petrie pitched the airport to Boeing president Bill Allen, who interrupted them. “He said they had already optioned about 700 acres. Bob and I looked at each other in amazement,” Petrie told the Herald. “He had no idea Boeing was thinking that big.”

Airport director George Petrie (left)and Don Bakken, a member of the Snohomish County Airport Commission, at Paine Field. Robert Best, Everett Herald publisher, and Petrie pitched the airport to Boeing president Bill Allen, who interrupted them. “He said they had already optioned about 700 acres. Bob and I looked at each other in amazement,” Petrie told the Herald. “He had no idea Boeing was thinking that big.”

Visual history: 50 years of Boeing at Paine Field in Everett

In 1966, the Boeing Co. committed to make a jetliner to dwarf every other passenger plane in the sky — the 747. The company chose a wooded area north of Paine Field in Everett for a new factory and began manufacturing the big plane there in 1967. These images chronicle the 50 years since the plant opened. Read the story

Talk to us

Previous
No need to schlep wallet, keys at Universal’s new water park
Next
Everett-based Coastal Community named Community Lender of Year

More in Herald Business Journal

Roei Ganzarski, CEO of magniX, poses with a production electric engine, the magni500, at the company's new office on Seaway Boulevard on Monday, Jan. 18, 2020 in Everett, Washington. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Electric aircraft developer magniX moves HQ to Everett

The company builds electric motors, and it’s teaming with Arlington’s Eviation to launch a fully electric plane.

FILE- In this Sept. 30, 202, file photo, a Boeing 737 Max jet, piloted by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) chief Steve Dickson, prepares to land at Boeing Field following a test flight in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)
European aviation agency: 737 Max to be cleared next week

The review of the aircraft “began with the MCAS but went far beyond.”

Garry Clark
Economic Alliance Snohomish County names new CEO

After nationwide search, Garry Clark, a Nebraska business advocate, will take the helm in February.

FILE - In this Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020 file photo, workers stand near a Boeing 737 Max airplane parked at Renton Municipal Airport next to the Boeing assembly facility in Renton, Wash., where 737 Max airplanes are made. On Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, the company reported final 2020 numbers for airplane orders and deliveries, and they are down from 2019 even though the 737 Max is flying again. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Canada OKs return of Boeing 737 Max aircraft

The planes will be permitted to fly as long as they meet specific safety conditions.

Snohomish Delivers concierge Sarah Dylan Jensen picks up tea from Everything Tea on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2020 in Snohomish, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A Snohomish service brings goods from the store to your door

Developed by the city, Snohomish Delivers encourages online shoppers to look local. And it’s free.

Arthur Sepulveda, 32, has been looking for his first home since July. He put in bids for four houses and finally found one last month in Lynnwood directly from the builder. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Low mortgage rates fuel a frenzied, revved-up housing market

Home prices are soaring and bidding wars are back, and Snohomish County “Zoom towns” are hot locations.

Adam Ling works securing rebar reinforcement for a set of stairs on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2020 in Lynnwood, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
With lots of people working at home, a rush for renovations

Homeowners with remodeling plans are keeping local contractors busy. Winter hasn’t slowed them down.

FILE - In this Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020 file photo, workers stand near a Boeing 737 Max airplane parked at Renton Municipal Airport next to the Boeing assembly facility in Renton, Wash., where 737 Max airplanes are made. On Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, the company reported final 2020 numbers for airplane orders and deliveries, and they are down from 2019 even though the 737 Max is flying again. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Boeing deliveries drop despite 737 Max’s return to flight

The company has borrowed billions and cut thousands of jobs to reduce costs.

Kim Williams, CEO of Providence Regional Medical Center Everett and Providence Northwest, will retire July 1. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Kim Williams, the local Providence CEO, will retire July 1

She was born at Providence in Everett and leads the health care provider’s northwest Washington group.

FILE - In this Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019 file photo, a United Airlines Boeing 737 Max airplane takes off in the rain at Renton Municipal Airport in Renton, Wash. Boeing improperly influenced a test designed to see how quickly pilots could respond to malfunctions on the Boeing 737 Max, and Federal Aviation Administration officials may have obstructed a review of two deadly crashes involving the plane, Senate investigators say. In a report released Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 the Senate Commerce Committee also said the FAA continues to retaliate against whistleblowers.(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
Boeing to pay $2.5B to settle criminal charge over 737 Max

The settlement includes money for crash victims’ families, airline customers and airlines, and a fine.

Britt Morgan, left, who manages the Scriber Creek Apartments and twin sister Rachel Morgan, who manages the Madison Way Apartments on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020 in Lynnwood, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Twin bridges in the challenging landlord-tenant relationship

When the rent is unpaid, property owners and lessors look to Rachel and Britt Morgan for help.

FILE - In this June 12, 2017, file photo, a Boeing 787 airplane being built for Norwegian Air Shuttle is shown at Boeing Co.'s assembly facility, in Everett, Wash. Boeing is dealing with a new production problem involving its 787 jet, in which inspections have found flaws in the way that sections of the rear of the plane were joined together. Boeing said Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, it's not an immediate safety risk but could cause the planes to age prematurely. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
Boeing Dreamliner’s defects spur $7.5 billion cash drain

The company intends to repair 787 planes at its factory in Everett