Nike Air
Nike Air
It all began in 1977 when aerospace engineer Frank Rudy brought an idea to Nike: trap air in a durable and flexible membrane and put it in a shoe.
After nine months of working, a revolutionary type of cushioning was born. This innovation was called Nike Air. The first Nike Air, called Tailwind, was built in 1979.
The next major milestone came in 1987, when shoe designer Tinker Hatfield cut a hole in the midsole, revealing the Air-Sole unit inside the Air Max shoe. This was the birth of Max Air technology. This idea came to him after visiting the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, France.
Not only could consumers see Nike Air for the first time, but it was also bigger than before and offered better impact protection. Enhancements to Max Air continued. With the release of Air Max 90, Air Max 180 and Air Max 93, Nike designers introduced dual-density Air-Sole units and perfected blow-molding technology.
