Air Force 1 OriginsThis once hoops shoe was named after Air Force One—the aircraft that carries the US President. In 1982, it was the first basketball shoe to house Nike Air, revolutionising the game while rapidly gaining traction around the world, from the hardwood, to the tarmac, to the core of hip-hop culture. Today, the Air Force 1 stays true to its roots withsoft, springy cushioning, but the Nike Air technology takes a back seat to the shoe's status as an icon.