The Boeing Model 2, also referred to as the Boeing Model C and its derivatives were United States two-place training seaplanes, the first "all-Boeing" design and the company's first financial success.

Design and development

The Boeing Airplane Company, previously known as Pacific Aero Products Co, built the Model C naval trainer as its first mass-produced airplane. Early design work was started by

George Conrad Westervelt George Conrad Westervelt (December 30, 1879 – March 15, 1956) was a United States Navy, U.S. Navy engineer who created the company "Pacific Aero Products Co." together with William Boeing. Westervelt left the company in 1916 and Boeing change ...

in late 1915, with the first wind tunnel tests being conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's 4 ft wind tunnel in May 1916. Most of the design work during early-to-mid 1916 by James Foley, who had previously assisted

in designing the Boeing Model 1. Westervelt, who had been reassigned to the East Coast in December 1915, consulted heavily on the design.

Wong Tsu Wong Tsu (also spelled Wong Tsoo, ; 10 August 1893 – 4 March 1965) was a Chinese aeronautical engineer who was the first aeronautical engineer at Boeing. Life and education Wong was born in Beijing, Qing China. At the age of 12, he was select ...

, an MIT graduate who was hired by Boeing in May 1916, also contributed to the design, specifically lending his expertise in the analysis of wind tunnel data. A total of 56 C-type trainers were built; 55 used twin pontoons. The Model C-1F had a single main pontoon and small auxiliary floats under each wing and was powered by a Curtiss OX-5 engine.

Operational history

The success of the Model C led to Boeing's first military contract in April 1917 and prompted both its reincorporation as the Boeing Airplane Company and relocation from

Lake Union Lake Union is a freshwater lake located entirely within the city limits of Seattle, Washington, United States. It is a major part of the Lake Washington Ship Canal, which carries fresh water from the much larger Lake Washington on the east to ...

, Washington to a former shipyard on the

Duwamish River {{Boeing model numbers Single-engined tractor aircraft 1910s United States military trainer aircraft Floatplanes 002, Boeing Biplanes Aircraft first flown in 1916