Airstream - Wikipedia

Airstreamers are a group of "RV-ers" who share a community spirit because of their common love of the trailers. In the early 1950s, Airstream company founder ... Airstream FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia Jumptonavigation Jumptosearch Typeofcaravan Forotheruses,seeAirstream(disambiguation). Thisarticlehasmultipleissues.Pleasehelpimproveitordiscusstheseissuesonthetalkpage.(Learnhowandwhentoremovethesetemplatemessages) Thisarticlepossiblycontainsoriginalresearch.Pleaseimproveitbyverifyingtheclaimsmadeandaddinginlinecitations.Statementsconsistingonlyoforiginalresearchshouldberemoved.(November2017)(Learnhowandwhentoremovethistemplatemessage) Thisarticleneedsadditionalcitationsforverification.Pleasehelpimprovethisarticlebyaddingcitationstoreliablesources.Unsourcedmaterialmaybechallengedandremoved.Findsources: "Airstream" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(November2017)(Learnhowandwhentoremovethistemplatemessage) (Learnhowandwhentoremovethistemplatemessage) AirstreamAlargeAirstreamtrailer.ProducttypeTraveltrailersOwnerThorIndustriesIntroduced1920sPreviousownersWallyByamWebsiteAirstream AirstreamisanAmericanbrandofcaravan("traveltrailer"inAmericanEnglish)easilyrecognizedbythedistinctiveshapeofitsroundedandpolishedaluminumcoachwork.Thisbodyshapedatesbacktothe1930sandisbasedontheBowlusRoadChief,anearlierall-aluminumtraveltrailerdesignedandbuiltbyHawleyBowlus,thesamedesignerandengineerwhoalsooversawtheconstructionoftheSpiritofSt.Louis.[1] AirstreamtrailersandrecreationalvehiclesaremanufacturedinJacksonCenter,Ohio,UnitedStates.Thecompany,nowadivisionofThorIndustries,employsmorethan800people,andistheoldestintheindustry. Contents 1History 1.1IntheUnitedKingdomandEurope 1.2Production 1.3Nestacquisition 2Airstreamparks 3Airstreamers 4Spaceprogram 5UnitedStatesAirForce 6References 7Externallinks History[edit] PlaymediaRefurbishedAirstreamtrailer,California,March21,2013 ThecompanywascreatedbyWallyByamwhobeganbuildingtrailersoutofMasoniteinhisbackyardinLosAngelesduringthelate1920s.[2]Byampublishedamagazineselling"how-to"kitstocustomerswishingtobuildtheirowntrailers.In1936,Byamintroducedthe"AirstreamClipper",whichwasessentiallyarebadged1935BowlusRoadChief,withthedoorrelocatedfromthefronttotheside.Thedesigncutdownonwindresistanceandthusimprovedfuelefficiency.Itwasthefirstofthenowfamiliarsausage-shaped,silveraluminumAirstreamtrailers.ThefirstAirstream,calledthe"Clipper"in1936,wasnamedafterthefirsttrans-Atlanticseaplane.Itsleptfour,carrieditsownwatersupply,wasfittedwithelectriclightsandcost$1,200.[3]Ofmorethan400traveltrailerbuildersoperatingin1936,AirstreamwasthesolesurvivoroftheDepression.[4]DuringWorldWarII,travelbecamealuxurymostcouldnotaffordandnon-militaryindustriesfacedanacutealuminumshortage.WhenWorldWarIIended,theeconomyboomed,andpeople'sattentiononceagainturnedtowardsleisuretravel.Byam'scompanywentbackintoproductionin1948.InJuly1952,anewfacilityinJacksonCenter,Ohio,wasestablished.1979sawthelastAirstreamstobemanufacturedinCalifornia. In1974,AirstreambeganmanufacturingaClassAmotorhome,badged"Argosy".[2]Theybeganaspainted20-and24-foot(6.1and7.3m)models,andwerefollowedin1979bythefirstexamplesoftheClassicmodelmotorhome,withanunpaintedaluminumbodymuchlikethetrailers. This1962AirstreamTradewindondisplayatthe2019VintageCamperTrailerRallyinGillette,WyomingwascustomorderedbythenPresidentofAirstream,ArtCostelloin1961.ThistrailerandStella'sGoldAirstreamaretheonlytwoknowngoldAirstreams.[5] Airstream-badgedClassAmotorhomesbeganas24-and28-foot(7.3and8.5-m)modelsin1979,andinthe1980sand1990s,modelsrangingfrom25upto37feet(7.6upto11.2m)weremarketed.Thealuminummotorhomeswerefollowedbymoretraditional-lookingfiberglassmodelsinthe1990s.AirstreamdiscontinuedmanufactureofClassAmotorhomesin2006.Onebusmodel,theSkydeck,featuredinteriorstairsleadingtoadeckontheroof. In1981,Airstream'sCommercialVehicleDivisionmarketedaClassAmotorhomeasafuneralcoach.Itwasdesignedtotransportfamily,flowersandthedeceasedfromthefuneralhometothecemetery. Startingin1989,AirstreambuiltClassBmotorhomesbasedontheFordEconolinechassisandtheDodgeB-seriesvanchassis.[2]Productionceasedafterthe1999modelyear.In2004,AirstreamintroducedtheWestfaliaandInterstate,builtontheMercedes-BenzSprinterchassis.TheWestfaliawasdiscontinuedin2006. Airstream,stillbasedinJacksonCenter,isadivisionofThor,Inc.Airstreamproducesseveralmodels—Basecamp,Bambi,Caravel,FlyingCloud,International,andClassic.2020trailersizesrangebetween16 ftto33 ft(4.9to10m). InFebruary2022,thecompanyunveiledaconceptall-electricAirstreamwiththeabilitytorechargeinmultiplewaysfromelectricoutletsatcampgroundstoregenerativebraking.Thevehiclealsohastheoptionforfive180-wattsemi-flexiblesolarpanelsforatotalof900wattsofpower.Theconceptalsohastheabilityforremotelyorautonomouslybackingupthevehicle.Thee-RVwouldoffer5Gconnectivity,Wi-Fihotspot,voicecommands,andtouchscreensformanipulatingallonboardactivities.[6] IntheUnitedKingdomandEurope[edit] Atwin-axleAirstreamtrailerinGermany AirstreamaredistributedintheUKandIrelandbyLowdhamsAirstreamDirect(LowdhamLeisureWorldLtd)[7]withfourmodelsmadeforEuropeandspecificallytunedfortheBritishmarket.TheInternational"534","604","684"andthenew"25"[8]havebeencreatedwithsmallerdimensionstoaccommodatenarrowerEuropeanroads.TheInternationalarestillentirelymanufacturedattheHQinOhioandshippedoverforfinalfitofmarketspecificitems.[9]AirstreamarealsopopularamongsttheEuropeanmarketfortakeawaydinersandbusinessstands.[10] AirstreamEuropearedistributedbyAirstreamGermanyandAirstreamItaly. Production[edit] AsofJanuary2015Airstreamwasproducing50trailersperweekorabout2,600peryear.Thecompanywasexpandingitscapacitywithplanstoincreaseproductionbyatleast50%over2014levels.[11]ByApril2016,theDaytonBusinessJournalreportedthatAirstreamwasproducing72trailersperweek--anannualrateof3,744assumingconsistentproductionallyear.Thesamearticlesaidtheywereaimingtoincreaseto77trailersperweekin2016.[12] Nestacquisition[edit] In2016,AirstreamacquiredNestCaravans,whichwasanOregon-basedcompanywhichhadoneproductindevelopment,attheprototypestage.Nesttrailersaremadeofmoldedfiberglass.TheNestisasmallerandlowerpricedtrailerthananyintheAirstreamline,butattheupperendofpricesforitsmarketsegment,thatwastobesoldfor$29,995beforetheacquisition.AirstreamCEOBobWheelersaid"Nestisaproductthatconveyssophistication,simplicity,andupscalemodernity,soitmadesenseforustopartnerandhelpbringthisdesigntomarket."[13]AirstreammovedthecompanytoOhioandexpandedstaffforproductionwhichisunderway.AirstreamNesttrailersarescheduledtobeavailableinearly2018.[14]TheAirstreamNestwaswithdrawnfromthemarketinSeptember2020. Airstreamparks[edit] 1966AirstreamOverlanderInternational TherearemorethanadozenAirstreamparksthroughouttheUnitedStates.[15]TheseareRVresortsorcampgroundswhereownersofAirstream-manufacturedunitsareallowedtobuy,rentorleaseasite.Someofthesefacilitieswelcomenon-Airstreamproducts,whileothersaremorestrictintheiradmission.SomeoftheparksrequiremembershipintheWBCCI(WallyByamCaravanClubInternational)tobeadmitted.SeveraloftheresortsareownedandoperatedbythelocalunitoftheWBCCI. Airstreamers[edit] Airstreamersareagroupof"RV-ers"whoshareacommunityspiritbecauseoftheircommonloveofthetrailers.Intheearly1950s,AirstreamcompanyfounderWallyByambeganleadinggroupsofownersontravelstomanyportionsoftheworld,wherethetowedtrailerswerequiteremarkable.Photostakenofthetrailersinfrontofmanyfamoustouristsiteswerecommon.ThispromotedamystiquewhichsurroundedAirstreamsandpersiststothisday. AmodernAirstream,2016FlyingCloud23Dtraveltrailershownwithtowvehicle,GMCSierra TheWallyByamCaravanClubwasformedinKentville,NovaScotia,Canadaduringthe1955EasternCanadaCaravan.Later,theword"International"wasaddedtotheclubname,resultingintheacronym"WBCCI".OnAugust17,2005,acommemorativeplaquewasdedicatedonthesite.TheclubcontinuestoofferRVcaravansallovertheUSA,Canada,andMexico(contracted)eachyear.ClubmembersjointogetherforonelargeInternationalRallyeachsummer,andhundredsofsmallerlocalralliesareheldcoast-to-coastby"units"(chapters).Theclubevenhasaveryactive"unit"inEurope.Airstreamsarestillpopular,andrestorationofoldermodelsisapassionsharedbymany. Spaceprogram[edit] TheAstrovandrivesinfrontoftheVehicleAssemblyBuilding. UpontheirreturnfromtheMoon,thecrewmenofthemissionsApollo11,12and14werequarantined,untilitwasdeemedthattherewaslittlelikelihoodofthemhavingbroughtbacklunarpathogens.Fromthecrew'scollectionaboardanaircraftcarrier,untiltheirarrivalintheLunarReceivingLaboratoryinHouston,theywerehousedintheMobileQuarantineFacility,whichwasamodifiedairtightAirstreamtrailer.Fourwerebuiltintotal,andthethreethatwereactuallyusedcanbeseenondisplayatvariousspacemuseums. Fordecades,NASAhasusedafleetofAirstreammotorhomestotransportastronautstothelaunchpad.Thespaceshuttleprogramusedamodified1983AirstreamExcellabeginningin1984dubbedtheAstrovan.[16] OnOctober21,2019,AirstreamandBoeingannouncedthatamodifiedAirstreamAtlas(whichalsousesaMercedes-BenzSprinterchassis),willbeusedtotransportBoeingcommercialcrewastronautstothelaunchpadwheretheywouldboardtheCST-100StarlinerontheirwaytotheInternationalSpaceStation.[17] UnitedStatesAirForce[edit] AirstreamtrailersarecommonlyusedtotransportAmericanofficialsaroundtheworld.[citationneeded]Thetrailersarestrappeddowninsidemilitarycargoplanes.Thetrailersfeatureleatherseats,airconditioningandclimatecontrol,woodpaneling,porcelaintoilet,LEDtelevisions,surroundsound,andBlu-rayplayers.[18] TokyoSmokingwagonisamodifiedAirstream References[edit] ^Potter,Everett."Howa20-SomethingRevivedtheBowlusRoadChief".Forbes.Retrieved2021-01-25. ^abc"HistoryofAirstream".airstream.com.Retrieved2017-03-20. ^Wilson,Craig(2007-07-02)."ForAirstreamers,it'sonebig'silverfamily'".USAToday.Retrieved2017-03-20. ^"ThorIndustries,Inc.History".fundinguniverse.com.Retrieved2017-03-20. ^"GoldAirstream".VintageCamperTrailers.VintageCamperTrailers.2019.Archivedfromtheoriginalon2018-08-27.Retrieved2019-07-13. ^Buss,Dale(2022-02-03)."AirstreamJoinsTheE-RevolutionWithItsConceptTravelTrailer".Forbes.Retrieved2022-02-05. ^"TheSwiftGroup".AirstreamUK.Retrieved2019-01-11. ^"AirstreamCaravansforSale|LowdhamsCaravansofNottingham".www.lowdhams.com.Retrieved2019-01-11. ^"AirstreamstarsalongsideHollyandPhilonThisMorning".AirstreamUK.Retrieved2019-01-11. ^JoTaylor,HSBCMobileAirstream,archivedfromtheoriginalon2021-12-21,retrieved2019-01-11 ^Stacy,Mitch(January1,2015)."Airstreamcan'tkeepupwithdemandforiconicsilvertrailers".WashingtonPost.RetrievedMay28,2017. ^Navera,Tristan(May3,2016)."Exclusive:Airstreamplanningmoremajorgrowth".DaytonBusinessJournal.RetrievedMay28,2017. ^"AirstreamAcquiresNESTCaravans".TheSmallTrailerEnthusiast.April2,2016.RetrievedMay28,2017. ^"TheNestisinProduction".Airstreamwebsite.RetrievedMay28,2017. ^"AirstreamParks".viewrvs.com.Retrieved2017-03-20. ^Mansfield,CherylL(2008-07-15)."CatchingaRidetoDestiny".NASA.Retrieved2017-03-20. ^Gitlin,Jonathan(October21,2019)."AirstreambuildsAstrovanIIforBoeingCST-100astronauttransport".ArsTechnica.CondéNast.RetrievedMay25,2020. ^Silva,Mark(2007)."Automobiles>SlideShow>KeepingTheShinySideUp".TheChicagoTribune.TheNewYorkTimes.Retrieved2017-03-20.ThetrailerusedbyVicePresidentDickCheneyonaninternationaltrip.AnchoredinsidethevastcargoholdofanAirForceC-17,itprovidedaprivaterespite. Externallinks[edit] WikimediaCommonshasmediarelatedtoAirstream. AirstreamCompanyWebsite AirstreamCamping(VincePatton,OregonFieldGuide) AirstreamLifeMagazine,anindependentmagazinecoveringtheAirstreamlifestyle Retrievedfrom"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Airstream&oldid=1070148339" Categories:CaravanandtraveltrailermanufacturersCompaniesbasedinOhioShelbyCounty,OhioStreamlinersHiddencategories:ArticleswithshortdescriptionShortdescriptionisdifferentfromWikidataArticlesthatmaycontainoriginalresearchfromNovember2017AllarticlesthatmaycontainoriginalresearchArticlesneedingadditionalreferencesfromNovember2017AllarticlesneedingadditionalreferencesArticleswithmultiplemaintenanceissuesAllarticleswithunsourcedstatementsArticleswithunsourcedstatementsfromJune2020CommonscategorylinkisonWikidataArticlescontainingvideoclips Navigationmenu Personaltools NotloggedinTalkContributionsCreateaccountLogin Namespaces ArticleTalk English expanded collapsed Views ReadEditViewhistory More expanded collapsed Search Navigation MainpageContentsCurrenteventsRandomarticleAboutWikipediaContactusDonate Contribute HelpLearntoeditCommunityportalRecentchangesUploadfile Tools WhatlinkshereRelatedchangesUploadfileSpecialpagesPermanentlinkPageinformationCitethispageWikidataitem Print/export DownloadasPDFPrintableversion Inotherprojects WikimediaCommons Languages ČeštinaDanskDeutschEspañolFrançaisItalianoNederlands日本語PortuguêsРусский Editlinks