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1969 Why do BMW motorcycles carry an airplane insignia? Ad

Because the BMW tradition goes back to 1916, when the Bavarian Motor Works was founded to build aircraft engines. This is the reason our famed white and blue insignia depicts whirling propeller blades. In fact, Manfred von Richthofen, the legendary Red Baron, flew a Fokker triplane powered by BMW. Since that time, we have built all our products - motorcycles, cars, marine and aircraft engines - to one standard, and one only. The best that can be built anywhere in the world...