• Airstream trailers were conceived by Wally Byam, who started out making trailers in his backyard in the late 1920s. After having success selling instruction plans for their construction, he founded the Airstream Trailer Company in 1932.

• Within 5 years of starting out the company had around 400 trailer manufacturer rivals. Airstream is the only one of these companies still in existence.

• So called because Wally Byam wanted his trailer to be lightweight, like a stream of air.

• Wally Byam designed an escape window for the back of Airstream trailers. This was to be used in the event of the main door becoming stuck.

• The Airstream International, produced in 1957, was the first trailer to be completely self-contained and not needing any external power supplies, thus making it possible to travel anywhere.

• Production ceased during the Second World War when aluminum was in short supply and the government disallowed the production of recreational trailers. It started up again in 1948.

• The original Airstream Trailer Company was situated in California; in 1952 it moved to Jackson Center, Ohio, where it remains to this day.

• The Apollo 11 astronauts had to be quarantined after their return from the moon. They spent the confinement in an Airstream trailer modified to be airtight.

• Airstream trailer roofs are so strong you can walk on them.

• The Land Yacht is an alternative name for the Airstream trailer.