re: The best explanation of what’s going on at Boeing

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There is so much talk everywhere now about how Boeing was a perfect company that always did right before the merger. These seem to come from documentaries that completely ignore how when it came to accidents Boeing before the merger consistently tried to either blame pilots, generally obfuscate investigations and downplay design flaws. You mentioned the 737 rudder issues, add to that the 767 thrust reversers deploying in flight, and downplaying the potential for the creation of flammable conditions in the fuel tanks both before and after TWA 800.

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Pan Am had 5 fatal 707 accidents in a 9 month period in the early 70’s.

July 22, 1973
Flight 816, operated by Boeing 707-321B Clipper Winged Racer, crashed on takeoff from Faa'a International Airport for reasons unknown, killing 78 of 79 on board. The accidents remains the deadliest in French Polynesia.
November 3, 1973
Flight 160, operated by Boeing 707-321C N458PA Clipper Titian, crashed while attempting to return to Boston due to smoke in the cockpit, killing the three crew.[17]
December 17, 1973
Flight 110, operated by Boeing 707-321B (N407PA) Clipper Celestial was firebombed while parked at Fiumicino Airport by Palestinian terrorists, killing 30 of 177 on board; the terrorists then killed a guard and hijacked Lufthansa Flight 303, a Boeing 737, to Kuwait.
January 30, 1974
Flight 806, operated by Boeing 707-321B Clipper Radiant, crashed on approach to Pago Pago after encountering windshear from a microburst, killing 96 of 101 on board.
April 22, 1974
Flight 812, operated by Boeing 707-321B Clipper Climax struck the side of Mesehe Mountain (42 miles northwest of Denpasar) due to a navigation error caused by instrument failure, killing all 107 on board.