Boeing's first aircraft was the 1916 B&W Model 1 seaplane. Learn who designed it, why the Model C causes confusion and what happened to both examples.
Boeing’s first aircraft was the B&W Model 1, a two-seat, single-engine biplane seaplane designed by William E. Boeing and U.S. Navy officer George Conrad Westervelt. Two examples, Bluebill and Mallard, were built in 1916 shortly before Boeing incorporated Pacific Aero Products, the business that later became the Boeing Airplane Company.
In our Aviation & Real-World Flying coverage, we use “first aircraft” in the historical sense: the first machine created by Boeing and his partner, not the first mass-produced aeroplane to carry the Boeing company name. That distinction matters because the B&W flew before the company was incorporated.
What did B&W Model 1 mean?
B&W stood for Boeing and Westervelt, the surnames of its designers. It is also recognised as the Boeing Model 1, placing it at the beginning of Boeing’s aircraft model sequence.
The aircraft was a floatplane rather than a flying boat. Its fuselage sat above the water on two main floats; the fuselage itself was not designed to act as a boat hull. Calling every early seaplane a flying boat is a common historical mistake.
Was the first Boeing aircraft built before Boeing was founded?
Yes. The first B&W Model 1 flew on 15 June 1916, while Pacific Aero Products was incorporated on 15 July 1916. The business adopted the Boeing Airplane Company name in 1917.
This timing explains why the aircraft may be described either as William Boeing’s first aeroplane or as the first product in Boeing’s company lineage. Both descriptions refer to the same B&W seaplane.
Why is the Boeing Model C sometimes called the first?
The Model C is sometimes mistaken for Boeing’s first aircraft because it was the company’s first major production success and is commonly described as its first “all-Boeing” design. It came after the two B&W Model 1 aircraft.
| Aircraft | Correct historical distinction |
|---|---|
| B&W Model 1 | First aircraft designed and built by Boeing and Westervelt; two examples completed. |
| Boeing Model C | First successful Boeing production design and the aircraft that secured an important U.S. Navy order. |
A mistake we see is answering “Model C” simply because it entered production. For the wider sequence from the B&W onwards, see our broader Boeing company and aircraft chronology.
What happened to Bluebill and Mallard?
The U.S. Navy evaluated the design but did not buy it. Both aircraft were subsequently sold to the New Zealand Flying School, giving Boeing its first international aircraft sale. They were used for training and other flying duties, including carrying mail.
Neither original B&W Model 1 is known to survive. The names Bluebill and Mallard nevertheless remain significant because the pair marked Boeing’s transition from an aviation enthusiast’s project to aircraft manufacturing.
Did Boeing continue building seaplanes?
Yes, although later Boeing seaplanes were separate designs rather than simple developments of the Model 1. They ranged from float-equipped trainers to large ocean-crossing flying boats; our account of the Boeing 314 Clipper’s role in long-distance aviation covers the best-known example.