Sneakerheads, sportspeople and science buffs alike will no doubt have heard of Frank Rudy. Known as the father of Nike Air, the NASA-employed Aerospace Engineer is the man we had to thank for some of the greatest sneaker tech going, so what better way to do it than in a shoe that pays homage to him?

Having realised that some of the work he was doing for NASA was just as applicable on the ground as it was in space, Frank Rudy worked tirelessly on creating an air bag - which worked by encapsulating dense gas into a rubber membrane - that would fit in a hollowed-out midsole unit. Though the tech was pretty revolutionary, it wasn’t exactly an easy sell, and most sneaker brands passed on the idea. Rudy then took the idea to Nike in 1977, and a year later the Nike Tailwind was born. It was the first shoe to use the “Air” tech, and of course, the start of something much, much bigger to come.

Although it’s always featured a striking design, the Tailwind we see in 2023 has had quite a few improvements since 1978. In 1992, the tech was celebrated further by being made visible, instead of left hidden away in the sole unit, and 1999’s version offered Air cushioning in both the heel and the forefoot. Various design changes followed, and the style saw a couple of facelifts between this its first launch and the 2000s, before the Tailwind V Plus was revived in 2021 through a collaboration with Skepta.

With the Y2K revival still going strong, Nike is continuing to roll out the style, and its latest effort looks to celebrate Frank Rudy’s efforts in bringing the shoes to life. Set to arrive alongside a Nike Air Max 90, Air Max 97 and Air Max Plus, the Nike Air Max Tailwind “Frank Rudy” comes in a clean white, yellow, blue and tan colour palette, and boasts a plethora of themed details, including blueprint-style insoles and Air-themed hangtags. Peeping even closer, you’ll most likely spot that the model’s original release year has been printed on the visible Air unit - a fitting tribute to the engineering legend.

Want to get your hands on some serious sneaker history? Hit the link to secure your size now, and don’t forget to check out the rest of the range over at Nike.