nike women's air force 1 sp nike originally released in 1982, the nike air force 1 was the first nike model to feature "air" technology. this legendary basketball sneaker was designed by bruce kilgore, the air force one. the air force 1 is nike's most popular sneaker to date, has been produced in nearly 2,000 different colorways, and is available in low, mid, and high-top models. the sp model adds a shiny metallic finish to the details that made the original an icon.