Where has the summer gone?  Hopefully it has taken you to some of your favorite places with your favorite people.  After all, that’s what Airstreaming is all about.  We’ve been busy here, there, and everywhere. It was fun seeing many of you who came to Jackson Center for the inaugural Alumapalooza (many thanks to Airstream Life for organizing such a great event!).   Then it was off to the WBCCI International Rally in Gillette, Wyoming where 710 trailers gathered in June.

Later on we were in upstate New York shooting our new lifestyle photography with the Miller brothers (who had their own Airstream adventure back in 1957 with National Geographic).  We’ve been working with web designers and developers in Indianapolis and Tacoma to get our site updated (stay tuned for that!)  And our great public relations firm in Los Angeles continues to keep our media exposure rolling right along.  Did you see us on the cover of Sunset Magazine or in Outside or the LA Times?  Good stuff!

Throughout the dog days of July, we had a few emails asking “where’s my newsletter?”  Well, we’ve decided to make it a quarterly release so that we can bring you the best possible content that is both original and relevant.   But fear not, we’ll have plenty of interim Airstream fixes for you.   As I mentioned, we are updating our website and that will have more editorial features for you to enjoy.  This new site will be up and running next month.  There, we’ll also have a live feed from our Facebook postings for up-to-the-minute information and musings on the brand and those that follow it.

By the way, are you following us yet?  Come see what we’re up to.

But Facebook (or BookFace as my mother calls it) can be a time drain and there are more important things to do.  So go hit the road, blow some bubbles, and enjoy the rest of your summer.  Thanks for checking in.

Sue Dooley, VP of Marketing

As of this writing, the Wilsons had 2,500 miles (and 7 parks) under their belts, but Rob already had a firm feeling about the Sprinter: “We’ve driven long hours at a stretch and there’s no ‘seat fatigue’ at all. You can imagine how important that is to an RVer. I’ve ridden in and driven some of the finest vehicles in the world, but none were as comfortable as the Interstate is. Period.”

Of course, it’s easy to be enamored of your vehicle when it begins as a Mercedes, but Airstream’s intrepid engineers transformed that solid citizen into Batman. The Sprinter is spiffed up with amenities like a 19-inch flat-panel LCD TV, a microwave oven, two-burner stove, and an energy-efficient mini-fridge, and that’s just for starters.

It also sports seating for eight, a table for four and a bedroom for two, along with auxiliary AC unit, 2.5-watt propane generator and a 32-gallon freshwater tank feeding a water heater, sink, toilet and shower, plus a bunch of electronic gizmos for blogging, tweeting, and locating national parks, even if they’ve moved recently. As Rob says, “It has all the accouterments of a Class A motorhome.”

Airstream essentially retrofitted the entire interior, including putting windows along the side of the vehicle. The Wilsons have had numerous conversations along the way with people who suggest that Mercedes and Airstream are a perfect match in regards their commitment to quality look and feel. Rob reports that the Sprinter is a powerhouse on the road, including plenty of torque in the tank on mountain passes at 10,000 feet, while still getting good mileage. In this early part of their odyssey, they hit some vicious wind and rain and sailed breezily through. Per Rob, “The Interstate eats road for breakfast.”

The couple are fully ensconced in the RV lifestyle, preparing meals in the vehicle, laying their heads down on the Sprinter pillows at night, and rising to the morning road. They love how different RV life is from “regular” life.

“RVing forces you to disconnect and live more slowly and thoughtfully. We find ourselves wondering what was so important about all the stuff we had, the time we spent on watching TV and movies, and how disorganized our former life was compared to how organized you have to be in an RV. The RV community we’ve experienced so far consists of some of the friendliest people around. Maybe it’s because they are not in a rush to get somewhere—they are always ‘there’ in their RV,” says Rob.

In their eight months, they’ll tour from Colorado south into New Mexico and Arizona, then hit the Pacific Coast and zip all the way up to Alaska. They’ll move across the top of the US to Maine before motoring down into Florida. Ultimately, they’ll end up at the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association’s National RV Show in Louisville, Kentucky, on November 30.

They are hoping to publish a book about the parks, with supporting photography, after their trip. Rob’s pretty sure the Sprinter could go another round: “This thing is built like it is expected to last forever, and you know the legendary life-span of traditional Airstreams.”

You can see what beautiful spots the Wilsons have seen and will soon see at http://www.sprintertour.com, where they offer daily reports and access to their Facebook posts and Twitter updates.

The updated Airstream Mercedes-Benz Interstate 3500 has begun its journey to dealers nationwide and it’s a beauty.  The partnership between Airstream and Mercedes-Benz has yielded a Touring Coach that fuses the legendary quality and design of the Airstream brand with the comfort, control, and luxury of Mercedes-Benz.

Airstream has outfitted the Class-B Interstate 3500 with seating for eight, a kitchen, bathroom, and a convertible lounge area that at night becomes a bed for two. Bucket seats in the cockpit swivel to face a removable table that seats four at mealtime, and a 19” flat panel HD LCD/DVD provides on-board entertainment. The galley features a convenient 1.2-cubic-foot convection-microwave oven and a stainless-steel two-burner cook top that is flush-mounted under a glass cover. A 3.1-cubic-foot refrigerator is cooled by an AC/DC compressor that uses 90 percent less power than conventional RV models.  Additional energy efficiency is obtained by using interior LED lighting.

The Interstate comes with a high-efficiency 13,500 BTU Dometic roof-mounted air conditioner, an optional 2.5-kilowatt Onan propane generator, and a 26-gallon fresh-water tank (with its own 6-gallon water heater for taking hot showers and washing dishes).  The unparalleled cargo capacity of the Interstate 3500 allows for greater continuous travel while the rear axle dual tires provide the stability to carry such weight.

Although the Interstate is less than 23 feet long and 80 inches wide, people up to 6 feet 2 inches can stand comfortably inside the cabin. For worry-free backing-up, the Interstate also features an optional 5.5-inch LCD screen mounted in the driver’s compartment to display the area behind the van whenever it is in reverse.

The 2011 Airstream Interstate is powered by a 3.0-liter Blue Efficiency V6 diesel engine that produces 188 horsepower and 325 lb.-ft. of torque from 1,200 to 2,400 rpm. Most importantly, the engine gets 30 percent better fuel economy than a comparable gasoline engine.

The 2011 Interstate 3500 is available in both twin and lounge floor plans, with two interior decors – Onyx and Sand Pearl, and two exterior colors – silver and white.   The Interstate 3500 has a starting suggested retail price of $121,274.

Patrick Botticelli – Colonial Airstream (Lakewood, NJ)
Lauren Botticelli – Colonial Airstream (Lakewood, NJ)
Dave Morse – Toscano Recreation (Los Banos, CA)
Mark Henrich – George Sutton RV (Eugene, OR)
Ken Baker – Sky River RV (Paso Robels, CA)
Douglas Fitzhum – Airstream of Spokane (Spokane, WA)
Steve Shultz – George Sutton RV (Eugene, OR)
Kirk Rollins – Airstream of Arkansas (Searcy, AK)
Erik Troester – Southwest Coaches (Irvine, CA)
Craig Carlson – Woodland Travel (Grand Rapids, MI)
Wesley Nave – Airstream Adventures Northwest (Milwaukie, OR)
Mike Dautel – Bates RV (Dover, FL)
Joe Weeks – George Sutton RV (Eugene, OR)
Bob Michelson – George Sutton RV (Eugene, OR)

Congratulations and thank you for your continued dedication to Airstream and our valued customers!

“It was like the biggest drop zone on earth,” sKY:: said, equating the Airstream factory and surrounding space with a landing area for skydivers.

The two had just planned to tour the factory to see how their 1991 34’ Airstream Trailer (60th Anniversary edition) had been made. But they also took the opportunity to reach out and touch other Airstream owners in an unusual way while they were there.

While in the lobby of the factory the couple demonstrated how they’ve combined the joy of flying with the health of Hatha yoga. They call the blending of the spiritual and physical “yogaFLIGHT.” It’s a combination of yoga postures (called asanas) and a feeling of flying, they explained.  “It really teaches people the joy of breathing,” slaDE~ said. “So many people don’t know how to breathe.”

The posture also gives people the feeling of what it’s like to skydive, she said. By positioning the person participating in the posture so their contact point is on their hips, they get to feel a bit what it’s like to have a parachute harness tugging at them while they’re “flying.”

“Breath deeply, open your arms and experience flying!” she told curious onlookers. And several took them up on the offer.

Age doesn’t matter. The couple convinced both seniors and children to participate in the experience. The couple wasn’t surprised. “People are curious. They want to know what it’s like.”

Showing people what it’s like—whether it’s skydiving or yoga or yogaFLIGHT is what they do as they live, work and travel around the U.S. giving workshops. sKY:: is also a website designer. Having the Airstream allows her to go to clients or work online as she chooses.

Happily married for almost two years, the couple not only purchased their Airstream just six weeks before they got married, but they actually incorporated the Airstream into the wedding. Their wedding album has dozens of photos taken inside and outside of the trailer.

“Of course it was in the wedding. It’s a big part of our lives,” sKY:: said. “We love it!”

They continue to live, travel and work out of it. Their lives, they say, revolve around their Airstream. Six months out of the year they live in Canada, pursuing their passion for skydiving. The other six months of the year they travel throughout the USA, giving free lessons in Hatha Yoga, since they’re both also certified Hatha yoga instructors.

sKY:: has 19 years experience and 1,300 jumps, slaDE~ has a little over 700 jumps and 9 years experience. Their mutual passion for travel, yoga, skydiving and Airstreams has served them well and enlightened and brightened the lives they touch in many ways, as they give the gift of breathing through the gift of yogaFLIGHT.

“We want people to experience yogaFLIGHT,” sKY:: said. “So we teach. We give free workshops and we enjoy what the day brings us.”

Having the Airstream gives them the freedom they want, along with the quality of life and travel they want. If you want to read more about saving the environment from an Airstream, yoga or skydiving, the couple blogs about their travels and their passions.

“It’s the biggest find of my geocaching career,” Nick said. Not only are the travel bugs rare, but chances are someone else will get to them before you do, he explained.

“They don’t stay in a cache long. Those who find them are supposed to take them out of the cache and “travel” with them – putting them in another cache as far away as possible. Once they’re in a new cache the next person along usually gets it.”

Geocaching is the sport of using GPS coordinates to find a hidden cache – anything from a container the size of a pillbox to the size of a foot locker that contains anything from a small notebook with the names of those who have found it, to a variety of small toys or items. The “stash” isn’t valuable, but it is unique since no two caches are alike.

“It all depends on what kind of area it’s in and how much space they have to hide something,” Nick said of how large the caches were. Cache containers range from a baby bottle or Tupperware bowl with a lid, to ammo boxes or 35mm film canisters.

It’s a hobby Nick and Jill would never have heard or thought about before they became Airstream owners. And Nick credits joining the tight-knit group of Airstreamers he met on Facebook and at various events with his discovery of geocaching.

“People on the Facebook group of Airstreamers talked about it, talked about the things they’d find and all these travel bugs,” he said. “So we started looking into it.” It’s not a sport exclusive to Airstream owners, but a lot of Airstream owners are passionate about geocaching. It’s just one more part of the active Airstream lifestyle the Iversons like.

Nick, who works for the government, and Jill, a teacher, have three dogs that travel with them. One of the dogs, Zona, has her own blog, http://zonaspawprints.blogspot.com/ and Nick has just started his own, http://poppedrivets.com, to start documenting their Airstream travels. They’re joining hundreds of other Airstream bloggers, but hope the focus on geocaching will attract other Airstream geocachers.

The couple just bought their 1979 Airstream Argosy last year. (It has been stripped of its original beige paint and polished.) Being from Virginia, in the Hampton Roads area, the couple said they’re in the perfect place to take advantage of all their Airstream offers. “There are just so many great parks in Virginia and Pennsylvania and so many places to go,” he said, “We can go someplace different every time we go.” The geocaching is something that’s helped them meet other Airstream owners. It’s something they can share and talk about, and it’s something that brings them together at get-togethers and rallies. Being surprised every time they find a cache is just a bonus, but the real fun is sharing their finds with other Airstreamer owners who also participate in the sport.

All the gear you need fits in a jacket pocket, and is perfect for anyone in an RV. The sport gets you outside, can be done alone or with family members and children of all ages, and is different every time you go out. “With millions of geocaches around the world, there’s always a cache no matter where you go,” Nick said.

“It’s perfect for Airstream rallies or get-togethers too,” Nick said. “While you’re waiting for a rally or dinner or something to begin you can go out and find a cache, or you can stop over somewhere on your way to a rally to take a break and find a cache.”

Our last question asked if you travel with a pet.  Out of 157 responses received, a whopping 93% of you said you do!

Mostly dogs and cats, of course, but two respondents also reported traveling with parrots and macaws.  There was also “an adorable male Irish Terrier (he thinks our trailer is a five star crate!)” and “a Labrador Retriever trained in prison to be a bomb sniffer.”

Mutual of Omaha is the sponsor behind this 25-city tour, which boasts a full video studio in the 34-foot Airstream Pan American. This is the second version of the tour (and the second round for the Pan American), going to new cities; the inaugural tour videos were used as the basis for television ads that debuted at the 2010 Olympics. The declarations of clarifying moments truly run the gamut:  according to Kaitlin Ebinger, one of the tour employees, “Talking with so many people every day, we certainly hear some funny and unusual stories. For instance, we had a man who came in today whose artistic medium is the paper napkin. He does some really cool little pieces, and he found that it was a great way to connect with his daughters.”

The Pan American is designed with a rear hatch for gear, but was customized by Airstream and a company called DTC Grip and Electric. The trailer is towed by a Chevy Silverado 2500 HD. All of the Airstream’s standard living quarters and plumbing were removed to install a broad range of electronic equipment and resources, such as LED studio lights, backdrop and multiple video cameras. The rear section holds the monitors and computers. “The Airstream works GREAT as a studio. It looks small from the outside, but it packs a lot of punch. We were able to accommodate a full lighting system for our needs as well as a camera mount and microphone tracks. We are a very small crew and conduct each interview one-on-one, so the Airstream allows for a more comfortable, intimate experience,” says Ebinger.

The tour began in early May and will continue until mid-August, hitting diverse, mid-sized cities from coast to coast. Contestants merely have to sign up in advance on the Aha site at http://www.ahamoment.com/ to set up the recording. Ebinger does a lot of the pre-screening briefings and paperwork filing for the “guests,” as she calls them. She and the other crew members blog about the tour and the recorded moments on the site. The tour team is staying in hotels, since the Pan American is bereft of beds.

Ebinger says that the custom trailer receives a lot of positive response, including that of Airstream aficionados who want to tour the inside. Apparently, the custom confines of a gleaming, technically outfitted trailer aren’t intimidating to the tour participants: “Getting people’s Aha Moments brings a lot of feelings to mind. Some are funny, some are sad, but it’s always inspiring to see people come out and really divulge some of their private moments. It has re-instilled my faith in people and community—it’s been wonderful,” says Ebinger.

After the videos are all posted, website visitors can vote on the best ones, which will then begin airing as commercial spots on broadcast television networks across the country

May brings many things.  Memorial Day reminds us to reflect somberly on those men and women who, in the immortal words of Abraham Lincoln, “gave the last full measure of devotion” so that we might enjoy the freedom and prosperity that are now the hallmarks of American life.

Here in Jackson Center, May means mushroom hunting, debate about when to plant corn or soybeans (many associates also farm), and a careful eye on the weather.  Business at our Service Center picks up too, as folks pull their Airstreams out of storage and get ready for a season of travel, adventure, and exploration.

May also marks the start of 2011 model year production.  This new fleet of Airstream travel trailers will feature (depending on model) energy-efficient LED lighting, LED televisions, new décor options, among other changes.  And, by popular demand, we’re also bringing back the 34 Classic Limited for a limited run.

In our Class B Motorhome Touring Coach line, we’re excited about the introduction of the Chevrolet-based Avenue and the advent of the Mercedes-Benz based Interstate.  Both offer an unparalleled luxury touring experience.

And to clear the decks for the new products, our dealers are offering special deals on remaining 2010 model year products.  Please see your dealer for details.

And don’t forget Alumapalooza this week, which is shaping up to be a blast.  We hope to see you there.

Until then, travel well.

Bob Wheeler, President & CEO

Their goal is simple: To spread the word that good design can change the world. It’s a combination traveling exhibition, book tour, lecture series, creative recruiting tour. Once they return to California, and then move to North Carolina however – they plan to continue to make the Airstream “home.”

“We’re living in it, working out of it and traveling in it,” Pilloton said. “We spend a lot of time in the Airstream.”

The Airstream was really the impetus for the book tour that sparked the round the country in an RV idea.  
“I finished the book (Design Revolution) and the publisher was asking me what I wanted to do about a book tour. Matt and I were joking around about it and he said maybe we should take it on the road, put everything in the Airstream and tour schools with it. It started out as a joke but then it seemed like a really, really good idea – so here we are.”

She and Miller hope the combination book tour, design lecture, and hands on opportunity to experience useful design will inspire students. They’d like to see students and teachers at all levels think about things they can create and problems they can solve with good design. She’s not pushing “better toasters,”

“People have a lot of stuff,” she said. “But there’s more to design that stuff that just looks great sitting on a table. It should have a purpose. It should make life better in some way and not be design just for design’s sake.”

One of those designs, which doesn’t just look good, but actually does good is the “Hippo Roller.” It’s an affordable plastic barrel that can be pushed along the ground with a roller. It’s not really anything to put on your holiday wish list unless you’re a woman in South Africa and you want a way to transport water from remote sources back to your village efficiently, and less painfully than carrying a jar on your head or shoulders. Or, you’re a camper in a very rural or remote area and want a way to move 40 gallons of water from a water source back to your site over rough, uneven ground.

Pilloton demonstrated the hippo by wheeling one around the stage during an appearance on Steven Colbert’s “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central.

It’s not the only gizmo and gadget Pilloton and Miller have to show. They’ve filled the vintage Airstream they’re towing behind a pickup with 40 more gadgets and cool things that can make the world a bit more livable. All of the items on display have been taken from Pilloton’s book, “Design Revolution: 100 Products That Empower People” (Metropolis Books, 2009.)  The book has more than 100 objects, including safer baby bottles, a high-tech waterless washing machine, low-cost prosthetics for landmine victims, Braille-based Lego-style building blocks for blind children, and even do-it-yourself soccer balls.