Airplane or Starship?

Virgin America has named one of its aircraft 'Jefferson Airplane' after the legendary San Francisco rock band. The origins of their name are disputed but have nothing to do with aircraft and flying - physically that is. One urban legend says it is slang for a split piece of paper enabling a joint to be smoked right the way down to the end. The other 'official' line comes from former band member Jorma Kaukonen who says it was based on a friend's nickname for him which had its origins in the old Blues player Blind Lemon Jefferson.

A Jefferson Airplane offshoot band became the Jefferson Starship and it too spawned an aircraft named after it. It was the one used by the major touring bands in America in the 1970s.

This was when the Rolling Stones used it in 1975.