SpaceX Is Cribbing From Boeing’s 1920s Playbook

Michael Thomas, for The Atlantic:

Compared to more established competitors like Western Air Express, the company was inexperienced. This proved problematic since the Postal Service made it clear they would award contracts to safe, reliable companies. But Boeing had an advantage over nearly every company in the industry: They had a plane capable of carrying passengers.

Absolutely fantastic read, and a great pick-me-up after SpaceX’s rough week. There are an incredible amount of parallels to the age that launched Boeing.

One thing to keep in mind as you read: if everything goes the way we hope, SpaceX will eventually be the old company we all grumble about being too big to be quick and innovative.