Designing a Better Torch

Think of Bombardier Aerospace, and one of the company's business airplanes—they build Learjet aircraft—might come to mind. But the well-known transportation and aerospace firm also designed the torch for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

The torch, which will twist and turn its way across Canada’s wintry landscape during a 106-day, 27,900-mile trek—the longest in Olympic history—is built of anodized aluminum, stainless steel, and a composite material. It was developed to withstand extreme temperatures (from -40 Fahrenheit to 104 F), and is guaranteed to operate through rain, sleet, snow, and wind.

A team of more than 50 engineers, industrial designers and others from Bombardier Aerospace and Bombardier Transportation worked on the design; the company also produced the 12,000 torches needed for the relay.

The torch’s fluid lines are meant as a tribute to the Canadian winter landscape. But are we wrong to think the design also contains a hint of airplane propeller?