Who did Boeing sell its first two aircraft to?

Short answer

To the New Zealand Flying School: the two B&Ws, named Bluebill and Mallard, were sold to that school and were the company's first international sale. Once in New Zealand, one of the B&Ws set a New Zealand altitude record of 6,500 feet, and a B&W flew the country's first official airmail flight, on 16 December 1919.

Published: November 5, 2026 · Updated: November 5, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

Who did Boeing sell its first two aircraft to?

Boeing pb 1

Bluebill and Mallard

The company's first two aircraft, the B&Ws, came out of the joint work of William Boeing and US Navy Lieutenant Conrad Westervelt. Each aircraft received its own name: the first B&W was called Bluebill and the second, Mallard. Construction was of wood, wire-braced and covered in linen.

Boeing's first international sale

Both aircraft ended up sold to the New Zealand Flying School, in a deal that was the company's first international sale.

A record and New Zealand's first airmail

Once in New Zealand, one of the B&Ws achieved a New Zealand altitude record of 6,500 feet. A B&W also flew New Zealand's first official airmail flight, made on 16 December 1919.