Boeing's struggles a grind on aerospace manufacturing in Buffalo

The cluster of aerospace companies in southeast Erie County are taking their lumps in connection with the Boeing 737 Max 8 airline. Boeing has thousands of orders for the plane but temporarily suspended its production in December after two deadly crashes. As a result, the company posted its first annual loss in 22 years last year. The 737 is big business in Western New York, particularly for Elma-based Astronics Corp., which puts about $95,000 worth of product into every Max airplane built. Astronics…