Boeing delivered a record number of jetliners in 2013. The large
amount of orders is likely to keep Boeing as the number 1
airline manufacturer, outpacing its longtime European rival
Airbus though both firms are said to be in a boom time as air
travel to Asia and Latin America picks up.  Boeing is what in
economics is called a national champion, not only has the firm
survived primarily on US government contracts, it has found
markets abroad thanks in part to US trade missions and
diplomacy. The best example perhaps being one of Boeing’s most
lucrative markets – Saudi Arabia. It is a rather open secret
that part of the United States’ strategic partnership with Saudi
Arabia involves the kingdom shoveling back some of their
petrodollars into the US economy in the form of defense
contracts with companies such as Boeing. Not to mention the
research and development funds poured into Boeing by the
Department of Defense from World War II on to foster developing
its modern aircraft fleet – with some nice tax breaks fr