It is hard to play down the changes Boeing has been through since it last rolled out an all-new airliner, the 777 in 1994. It has balanced its civil and military businesses through merging with McDonnell Douglas - which helped it survive post- 9/11 - and moved headquarters from its birthplace, Seattle, to Chicago. Ethics violations have forced the resignations of two chief executives - the architects of its transformation - in 15 months. It has brought in a chief executive capable of restoring its reputation.