Airstream Caravans and the American Dream

What exactly is the American Dream? A full definition of this fabled concept can’t quite be pinned down. But there are things you can experience which will get you somewhere close to feeling ‘all-American’ and being consumed by the spirit of that vast country.

There are certain brands or touchstones which are so iconic they seem to ‘be’ America itself. Particular soft drinks, for instance, or the legendary Route 66 or the sport of baseball or the Statue Of Liberty or Elvis Presley in the 1950s – and so on and so on, for a very long time. The list of things is probably endless, in fact, and for a country that is only 300-or-so years old there already are a heck of a lot of very special cultural components.

High on the list is the Airstream, and higher still is the first moon landing – and that brings us very neatly to the two subjects we’re going to cover in this blog.

First, Airstream. This instantly recognisable piece of American ‘road tech’ has been around since 1929 and features highly visual classic design, which has remained virtually unchanged in all those decades, allied to engineering expertise. There’s no mistaking the extra ‘bump’ to your senses when you encounter one – whether in a showroom, out on the road, at a campsite or – ideally – on your drive! It’s almost more than just a leisure vehicle.

There was a moment in time when the Airstream, itself already an icon, became an integral part of one of the most significant events in mankind’s history. That time was 1969…

Airstream seems to share an aesthetic with the rocket ships from 1930s TV shows like Flash Gordon – and from the aircraft of the era, too. Lots of chrome, lots of rivets.

Stepping inside is quite an experience, too. There’s every possibility that when you first put your head through the door of an Airstream you will feel the past and the future collide. There’s something appealingly vintage or retro (or whatever word you want to use) about the look and feel of the interior – but there is also a sense that you have stepped into a world of science-fiction. The unusual metallic shell and ‘50s domestic vibe seem to offer up a soda bar from Saturn, or a diner from the depths of the cosmos.

When it comes to space travel Airstream is more than just a smart vehicle with science fiction undertones. As history turned out, there is a demonstrable and hugely impressive officialAirstreamconnection to the actual space programme. The one run by NASA. The one which peaked a world’s hopes and dreams when a man first walked on the moon.

On the 24of July 1969 when the Apollo astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins returned to earth they were recovered from their capsule, which had splashed down, and taken by helicopter to the naval battleship USS Hornet. Once there they entered quarantine in a specially customised and kitted out 35-foot Airstream trailer.

During the development of the moon mission, concerns had arisen within NASA that the astronauts could return to Earth carrying unknown lunar pathogens, which could ultimately lead to a devastating outbreak of disease across the global population. It was agreed, therefore, that the astronauts and all of the moon samples they managed to collect would be transferred to the Lunar Receiving Laboratory in Houston on board a Mobile Quarantine Facility (MQF). Work on this special vehicle was contracted out by NASA to a company which then subcontracted with Airstream to actually build it.

The sealed aluminium unit utilised exhaust fans and filters so that an internal negative pressure for biological isolation was created. In other words, if there were any lunar diseases they would be starved. The MQF also featured a decontamination transfer lock so that samples and film the astronauts had collected could be transferred to scientists outside the vehicle. The interior of the Airstream MQF was converted to provide a medical examination table in addition to comfortable living areas much like a standard Airstream, including bunk beds, a kitchen, and a bathroom.

When the three Apollo 11 astronauts returned, President Nixon was on the USS Hornet to witness the splashdown of the capsule and their recovery – and, once they were safely in their Airstream quarantine quarters, POTUS was able to talk to them and congratulate them. This was actually the second time he’d done so during the historic mission as, four days earlier, he’d spoken to them a few minutes after they’d first walked on the surface of the moon! The footage and still images of this Airstream meeting have become iconic, with the vehicle shining out with involvement in the whole moon landing.

This most historic of all Airstreams remains on public display at the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum in Virginia, where it has been since 1974. The other Airstreams used as MQFs for further Apollo missions are on display in museums elsewhere in the USA. In addition, there is the Astrovan – a modified 1983 Airstream Excella. This was used to transport NASA astronauts to the Space Shuttle launchpad during the 1980s, and is currently housed at the Kennedy Space Centre near Cape Canaveral in Florida.

Lowdhams is proud to be the UK’s only officially registered Airstreamdealer, with newAirstreams available to satisfy you whether you’re chasing your own personal bit of America here in Blighty, or just looking for a supremely put together piece of road kit. Whether it’s the Tourer, Bambi or Basecamp, each Airstreamforsale offers you a perfect balance between aesthetics and engineering. These vehicles are designed to really elevate your on the road leisure experience. If you have any further queries about Airstream, feel free to give us a call or drop us a line. We can’t promise a trip to the moon, of course, but we can guarantee out of this world service, and we’d be more than happy to help acquaint you with this perfect slice of the American dream!