[pterional]

If Boeing would spend less time on social issues like diversity in the work place and hiring affirmative action engineers then they might be able to design and build planes like they did in the 60s and 70s.

Our youth spend more time on the computer and video games than actually building something with their own hands. It is the rare individual that builds Ham radios, RC planes or does home shop machining. Probably a major of the engineers at Boeing haven't even built a kite out of paper and balsa wood and made it fly.

[taildragger]

Our youth spend more time on the computer and video games than actually building something with their own hands. It is the rare individual that builds Ham radios, RC planes or does home shop machining. Probably a major of the engineers at Boeing haven't even built a kite out of paper and balsa wood and made it fly.

Boy you hit the motherload here. It is about passion.

My question is how many Boeing Engrs know how to fly or do some off those hobbies. In the 60's it was common place, ditto that the auto industry, so many of the good ones modify cars or race them. I am curious from the 777 to the 787 how many of the engineers @ Boeing are hombuilders (aircraft) and how the number of EAA/homebuilders have dwindled....

[redgolum]

Well, some of those things are not available anymore for kids. RC planes are very pricey, and in places closely regulated. Machine shops take space and money, and most high schools no longer have shop.