“The Father of Boeing” is Chinese---Win the First Success for Boeing

On May 1916, as the second year’s graduates of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Wangzhu, Bayuzao, Wangxiaofeng, all of the three, won the Master’s Degree in Aeronautical Engineering. At the end of 19^th century and the beginning of 20^th century, “ Learning the strong point of the western’s to make up for the weakness of China” was all the young’s dream. So was Wangzhu.

At that time in China, it was the period of Yuanshikai’s control. After graduation, they couldn’t go back to China immediately because they didn’t get their public funds for study from the government. Then Wangzhu got the opportunity of working in Boeing when he was in trouble.

 

The founder of Boeing Company, William E. Boeing was a timber-merchant in Seattle. On July 1916, William E. Boeing founded the Pacific Aviation Supplies Corporation with an officer named Westeve who was keen on the aviation business. In 1917, Westeve had to leave because he needed to join the navy. Then William E. Boeing changed the company’s name into Boeing. Because of Westeve’s leaving, Boeing Company desired for a professional aviation technologist to take place of Westeve. Wangzhu was Weateve’s classmate, so he was recommended to the Boeing Company. At that time, Boeing was not very large. The entering of Wangzhu was a treasure to the Boeing Company. He was employed as the first chief Engineer.

 

William E. Boeing and Westeve produced the B＆W-1 seaplane, but nobody paid attention to it. Ay that time, the U.S. military was the main buyer of airplane. The U.S. military found that this kind of seaplane didn’t accord with their standard because the seaplane’s success rate of taking off and landing was low. Wangzhu knew clearly about the weakness of B＆W-1 seaplane. His goal was improving it. Therefore, Wangzhu designed a double floats and double flights B＆W-C seaplane which passed the U.S. military’s test successfully. The U.S. Navy Department ordered 50 airplanes one time.

 

This order brought 570,000 dollars income for Boeing Company. It was the most valuable success in the development history of Boeing Company. Relying on Wangzhu’s excellent talent, the new Boeing Company strengthened its foundation. It was indisputable that Wangzhu could stay in America to continue to develop the aviation manufacturing area and got a lot of money as one of the founders of Boeing Company. But he left America and went back to China when his B＆W-C seaplane won great commercial success. In fact, Wangzhu went back to China in anger because he suffered serious racial discrimination in America. Though Wangzhu designed and manufactured the B＆W-C seaplane, he was refused to enter into the test field in the B＆W-C seaplane’s flying test. The America workmates worried about that he would steal the“ top aviation technology of U.S.”

 

This apparent discrimination against the Chinese people made Wangzhu very angry. He did not hesitate in choosing back home.