1966 Airstream Overlander International

Airstream is a brand of recreational vehicle manufactured in Jackson Center, Ohio. The company, which employs approximately 400, is the oldest in the industry. Airstream trailers are well recognized for their distinctive rounded aluminum bodies, which originated in the 1930s from designs largely created by Hawley Bowlus. Bowlus was the chief designer of Charles Lindbergh's aircraft, the Spirit of St. Louis. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 313 KB) Airstream recreational vehicle. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 313 KB) Airstream recreational vehicle. ... A camper built on a light truck chassis; a Class-C motorhome in North American terminology. ... Jackson Center is a village located in Shelby County, Ohio. ... William Hawley Bowlus was a designer, engineer and builder of aircraft (especially gliders) and recreational vehicles in the 1930s and 40s. ... For Charles Augustus Lindbergh, Junior, see Lindbergh kidnapping. ... The Spirit of St. ...

Early history

The company was founded by Wally Byam, who began building Masonite trailers in his backyard in Los Angeles during the late 1920s. Byam, a lawyer by training, published a magazine selling "how-to" kits to customers wishing to build their own trailers. He then acquired the struggling Bowlus Company. In 1936 Byam introduced the "Airstream Clipper", which was essentially a rebadged 1935 Bowlus, with the door relocated. The design cut down on wind resistance and thus improved gas mileage. It was the first of the now familiar sausage-shaped, silver aluminum Airstream trailer. Byam moved his operation to Jackson Center, Ohio, in 1952, where Airstream's (and parent company Thor Industries) headquarters still reside. Wally Byam, one of the pioneer manufacturers of the travel trailer, founded the company, Airstream Inc. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... The 1920s is a decade that is sometimes referred to as the Jazz Age or the Roaring Twenties, usually applied to America. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Jackson Center is a village located in Shelby County, Ohio. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Thor Industries is a builder of recreational vehicles and commercial transit buses under the names: Goshen Coaches Champion Bus Incorporated ElDorado National Airstream External links Thor Industries, Inc. ...

Models

Of more than 300 trailer builders operating in 1936, Airstream was the only one to survive the Depression years. However, during World War II, leisure travel became a luxury most could not afford and non-military industries faced an acute aluminum shortage. Airstream Trailer Co. closed its doors. Byam decided that the best way to help the war effort was to use his experience with aluminum fabrication in the aircraft industry, taking jobs at Lockheed and Curtis Wright for the rest of the war. When World War II ended, the economy boomed, and people's attention once again turned towards leisure travel. Byam's company went back into production in 1948.

By that time, the demand for Airstream trailers increased tremendously, with a wide range of models eventually being offered. In July 1952 a new facility in Jackson Center, Ohio, was established. By August of that year, the first Ohio-made Airstream rolled off the line, and the California factory was also moved to larger facilities in Santa Fe Springs and later Cerritos. 1979 saw the last Airstreams to be manufactured in California. Jackson Center is a village located in Shelby County, Ohio. ... Santa Fe Springs is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. ...

Beginning in 1974 Airstream began manufacturing a Class A motorhome, badged "Argosy". These began as painted aluminum 20- and 24-foot models, and were followed in 1979 by the first of their Classic model motorhomes, with an unpainted aluminum body, much like the trailers they are known for. In actuality, these were modified trailers, mounted on a step van chassis also modified for the motorhome.

Tokyo Smoking wagon is a modified Airstream

The Class A motorhomes began as 28-foot models, and in the '80s and '90s, models ranging up to 37 feet were marketed. These classic motorhomes were followed by the production of more traditional-looking fiberglass models in the '90s. Airstream discontinued manufacture of Class A motorhomes in 2006. A recent model, the Skydeck, featured bus-like construction and interior stairs leading to a fully appointed deck on the roof. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 436 KB) Smoking is prohibited on some streets in Tokyo. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 436 KB) Smoking is prohibited on some streets in Tokyo. ...   , literally Eastern capital) is a unique subnational administrative region of Japan with characteristics of both a prefecture and a city. ...

Starting in 1989, Airstream also built Class B motorhomes based on the Ford Econoline chassis and the Dodge B-series van chassis. Named "B190" after their class and 19-foot length, production ceased after the 1999 model year. In 2004, Airstream introduced the Westfalia, Interstate and Parkway models all based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis. The Westfalia was discontinued in 2006. Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... The Ford E-Series, also known as the Econoline, is a line of full-size vans and truck chassis from Ford Motor Company. ... 1976 Plymouth Voyager, similar to the Dodge Sportsman The Dodge B-series was a full-sized passenger and utility van built by Chrysler Corporation, which replaced the previous smaller A-series vans. ... Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter is a tall delivery van, pickup truck and minibus built by DaimlerChrysler and sold under its Mercedes-Benz, Dodge, and Freightliner brands. ...

Airstream, based in Jackson Center, Ohio, is owned by Thor, Inc. Thor was created in 1980 when Wade F.B.Thompson and Peter Orthwein bought Airstream from Beatrice Foods, who had bought the company from Byam's estate in 1967. The company presently manufactures approximately 2,000 trailers and motorhomes per year. Currently, Airstream produces four models: Safari, Safari Special Edition, International (CCD Signature & Ocean Breeze) and Classic Limited. Lengths range from 16 to 34 foot and they manufacture two models with slide-outs (30 and 34 Classic). Their most popular models are the 25 and 27 foot "front bedroom" models. Safari SE and International are the most preferred trim levels.

Airstreamers

Airstreamers are a group of RVers who share a community spirit because of their mutual love of the trailers. In the early 1950s, Airstream company founder Wally Byam began leading groups of owners on travels to many portions of the world, where the towed trailers were quite remarkable. Photos taken of the trailers in front of many famous tourist sites were common. This promoted a mystique which surrounded Airstreams and persists to this day.

The Wally Byam Caravan Club was formed during the 1955 rally in Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada. Later, the word "International" was added to the club name, resulting in the acronym "WBCCI". On August 17, 2005, a commemorative plaque was dedicated on the site. Club members join together for one large International Rally each summer (which by club rules always includes the dates of July 1 and July 4), and hundreds of smaller local rallies are held coast-to-coast by "units" (chapters). Airstreams are more popular than ever, and restoration of older models is a passion shared by many.

Airstream Parks

There are about a dozen Airstream parks throughout the United States; these are RV resorts or campgrounds where owners Airstream-manufactured units are allowed to buy, rent or lease a site. Some of these facilities welcome non-Airstream products, while others are more strict in their admission. Several of the resorts are owned and operated by the local unit of the WBCCI.

Appearances in Popular Culture

In 1969, upon their return from the Moon, Neil Armstrong and the crew of Apollo 11 were quarantined in a modified airtight Airstream trailer, until it could be determined that there was little likelihood of their having brought back "lunar pathogens" with them. Also: 1969 (Stargate SG-1) episode. ... Neil Alden Armstrong (born August 5, 1930) is a former American astronaut, test pilot, university professor, and naval aviator. ... The Apollo 11 mission was the first manned mission to land on the Moon. ...

When on the set, Mark Harmon lives in a 25-foot 1972 Airstream he restored himself instead of the 42-foot Star Waggon the other stars have. Mark Thomas Harmon (born September 2, 1951) is an American actor. ...

In the early '80s, Francis Ford Coppola had a special Airstream trailer commissioned which was subsequently fitted as a mobile film editing suite. It was nicknamed the "Silverfish". Francis Ford Coppola (born April 7, 1939) is a five-time Academy Award winning American film director, producer, and screenwriter. ...

On the "Q" episode of Good Eats, Alton Brown's Airstream trailer is used. Good Eats is a television cooking show created and hosted by Alton Brown that airs in North America on Food Network. ... Alton Brown (born on July 30, 1962 in Los Angeles, California, USA) is an American food personality, cinematographer, author, and actor. ...

The Surreal Gourmet aka Bob Blumer (as seen on the Food network) uses a customized 19' Safari Bambi for his travels in his popular TV show.

Mr Lahey of Trailer Park Boys fame owned a cream airstream which Ricky and Julian used to grow cannabis. The trailer was quickly destroyed when it was involved in a police chase. Trailer Park Boys is a popular Canadian mockumentary television series focusing on the misadventures of a group of trailer park residents, some of whom are ex-convicts living in fictional Sunnyvale Trailer Park, located near Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. ... Information Nickname(s) Reveen Gender Male Date of birth 1971 Occupation Dope grower Family See below Children Trinity Address Sunnyvale Trailer Park Episode count 53 Portrayed by Robb Wells Ricky is a fictional character on the Canadian television series Trailer Park Boys portrayed by Robb Wells. ... Information Gender Male Date of birth 1970s Occupation Ex-con Address Sunnyvale Trailer Park Episode count 53 Portrayed by John Paul Tremblay Julian is a fictional character on the Canadian television series Trailer Park Boys portrayed by John Paul Tremblay. ... Look up Cannabis in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie took an Airstream with them while they were filming The Simple Life Road Trip. An Airstream is driven around America by the Green family in the CBS TV series Promised Land, aired 1996-1999. Paris Whitney Hilton (born February 17, 1981) is an American celebrity and socialite. ... Nicole Camille Richie (born September 21, 1981) is an American socialite, actress, author, and singer. ... For other uses, see Simple living. ... Promised Land was a television series which ran on CBS from 1996 to 1999. ...

Derek Shepherd, fictional character on the ABC series Grey's Anatomy lives in an Airstream trailer. Derek Shepherd is a fictional character on the ABC television series Grey’s Anatomy. ... This article is about the television series. ...

Other Airstream owners: Anthony Edwards, Ron Howard, Tom Hanks, John Ratzenberger, JJ Cale, Corbin Bernsen, Rutger Hauer, Sean Penn, Matthew McConaughey, Tim Burton, Brian Johnson (AC/DC), Andy Garcia, Matthew Modine, Johnny Depp, Sandra Bullock Darcy Gegear This article is about the American actor. ... For other people named Ron Howard, see Ronald Howard. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... John Deszo Ratzenberger (born April 6, 1947) is an American actor. ... J.J. Cale (born December 5, 1938) is an American songwriter and musician, best known for writing two songs that Eric Clapton made famous, After Midnight and Cocaine as well as many songs recorded by other artists. ... Corbin Dean Bernsen (born September 7, 1954) is an American actor, known for his work on television. ... Rutger Oelsen Hauer (IPA: [rʏtxɛr ulsɛn hʌuɛr]) (born in Breukelen, January 23, 1944) is a Dutch film actor. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Matthew Baron McConaughey (born November 4, 1969) is an American actor. ... Timothy Tim William Burton (born August 25, 1958) is an Academy Award-nominated American film director, writer and designer. ... Brian Johnson (born October 5, 1947 in Dunston, Gateshead, England) (He however lived in North Shields throughout the 1970s and 80s ) is a singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist for the Australian hard rock band, AC/DC. He currently lives in Sarasota, Florida. ... AC/DC are a hard rock band formed in Sydney, Australia in 1973 by brothers Angus and Malcolm Young. ... Andy Garcia at the Incirlik hospital, Incirlik Air Base, December 7, 2001 Andy García (born April 12, 1956) is a Cuban-American actor. ... Matthew Avery Modine (born March 22, 1959 in Loma Linda, California is an American actor. ... Johnny Depp (born John Christopher Depp II[2] on June 9, 1963, in Owensboro, Kentucky) is an Academy Award-nominated and SAG Awards-winning American actor and for his performances in the films Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), Edward Scissorhands (1990), Whats Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), Ed Wood (1994... Sandra Annette Bullock (born July 26, 1964) is an American film actress. ...

External links

• Airstream, Inc
• WBCCI
• Vintage Airstream Club
• Airstream Forums
• Airstream Life magazine
• Airstream Trailer Link Library