Wally’s first attempt was a tent-like structure on a , but it was cumbersome and offered little protection from the elements. Refining his vision, he drew inspiration from his childhood experience living in a donkey-towed wooden wagon on a sheep farm. In 1931, he opened his first factory in Culver City, California, producing trailers he named "Airstreams" because they moved "like a stream of air" .
: In the 1980s, a modified Airstream Excella Motorhome, nicknamed the Astrovan , was used to transport Space Shuttle crews to the launch pad. A Legacy of "Living Riveted" Heritage | Airstream History airstream
The iconic aerodynamic design truly took flight in the first riveted aluminum, semi-monocoque Airstream. This design survived the Great Depression, while most of its competitors—more than 400 other trailer manufacturers—went out of business. Beyond the Road: Airstream in Space Wally’s first attempt was a tent-like structure on
: In 1969, the Apollo 11 astronauts (Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins) were quarantined in a specially built Airstream to ensure they didn't bring back "lunar pathogens". : In the 1980s, a modified Airstream Excella