Things to know about the enduring Airstream, an American icon that's breathing new life

The western Ohio plant that builds Airstream travel-trailers is seeing such hot demand that there's a three-month backlog on orders, and ground has been broken on a major expansion that will increase production capacity. Some factoids about the Airstream:

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WAY BACK WHEN

Wally Byam built the first Airstream trailer as a tent contraption on a Model T chassis, eventually replacing the tent with a teardrop-shaped permanent shelter. The riveted aluminum, aviation-inspired design emerged in the 1930s and hasn't been tweaked greatly since then. Since 1952, they've been built at a factory in Jackson Center, Ohio, north of Dayton. Byam would spend much of the rest of his life leading Airstream caravans around the world.

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LOTS OF FANS

Airstream owners are enthusiastic, loyal and love to hang out with one another. Organized chapters of the owners association — called the Wally Byam Caravan Club International — put together rallies around the world and stay in touch through active message boards and social media. An annual camping event at the Ohio factory sponsored by Airstream Life magazine draws 120 to 150 units. It's called "Alumapalooza."

NASA's FAVORITE

The first stop for Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins when they got back from the moon in 1969 was a modified Airstream trailer. They were quarantined until doctors cleared them from any harmful germs they might have brought back from space. President Richard Nixon congratulated the astronauts from the window. A drivable Airstream RV shuttled astronauts to the launch pad for years.

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ON THE BIG SCREEN