Commercial aircraft production in Southern California came to an end after seven decades when the last Boeing 717 rolled out before dawn on April 23. It was on its way, first to the Long Beach Airport, and ultimately to AirTran Airways. The event means that only the C-17 military cargo plane retains Southern California's role in aircraft production, but this, too, may end in 2008 if Congressional efforts to renew that program fail. While production has moved to Seattle, St. Louis and other regions, Southern California retains its historic role in aerospace research and development. Dating back to the early 1900s, California aviation history includes such aviation pioneers as Donald Douglas, Jack Northrop and Howard Hughes. The Douglas DC-1 in 1933 helped start commercial aircraft production in the region. Since then its legacy developed into some of the more commercially successful aircraft.