The Nike Air Force 1 was named after Air Force One, the official aircraft used by the president of the United States.
Nike introduced the Air Force 1 in 1982 as a basketball shoe designed by Bruce Kilgore. It was the first basketball shoe to use Nike Air cushioning, giving the model both a technical distinction and a memorable name.
The name refers to the presidential aircraft rather than to a military basketball program or a player nickname. That connection is a common source of confusion because the sneaker’s official styling is usually written “Air Force 1,” while the aircraft is commonly called “Air Force One.”
The shoe later became especially influential in hip-hop, streetwear, and everyday fashion. Although it began as a high-top basketball model, Nike eventually produced low-top and mid-top versions, making the Air Force 1 one of the company’s most enduring silhouettes.