National Aviation Day
Celebrate flight pioneer Orville Wright’s birthday on National Aviation Day by learning about the history of flight, making paper airplanes, or learning to fly yourself.
Spread those wings and fly high on this day that pays heed to all things related to the industry and science of flying! For more than 80 years, the United States has been showing appreciation for the impact that aviation has made on the world and National Aviation Day is just one of the times people can get involved in doing that.Â
History of National Aviation Day
A day to celebrate the development of aviation, National Aviation Day falls on and commemorates the birthday of Orville Wright, who was still alive when the honor was first bestowed upon him for his critical work in the field of aviation.
National Aviation Day was founded in 1939 by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt through a presidential proclamation, allowing the sitting president of each year after that to also declare the day. Federal buildings in the US may be required to fly the US flag on this day as a presidential decision in order to promote this time to celebrate the advancements made in the world of aviation.
Various aviation museums, organizations and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) may all be involved in hosting celebratory events and activities in honor of the National Aviation Day. In the past, airshows have been hosted in cities like Chicago, Cleveland, New York and more.
How to Celebrate National Aviation Day
Enjoy and celebrate the freedom of flight by making some exciting plans for National Aviation Day. Grab a friend, take a flight, or get involved with the day with some of these ideas:Â
Attend a National Aviation Day Celebration
Get connected and involved with the day by attending celebrations or events that are put on at nearby air force bases, museums, local airports and more. Teachers might want to take the opportunity to use the day as a launch for learning about the history and science behind flight, hosting a party for National Aviation Day, encouraging children to dress up as their favorite pilot or write a report about them.
Learn More About the Power of Flight
Folks who are interested in aviation and flying, whether young or old, can take National Aviation Day as motivation to dig in a bit deeper to their knowledge and share some of it as they raise awareness for the celebration of the day.
Enjoy and share some of these interesting facts in observance of National Aviation Day:
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Brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright constructed their first controlled, powered heavier-than-air aircraft in their bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio.
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Airplanes were first used for mail delivery in the United States in 1918, when the first airmail flight went from Long Island to Philadelphia.
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Charles Lindbergh accomplished the first trans-Atlantic flight in 1927, taking more than 33 hours and making him an American hero.
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The first passenger airliner that entered into the industry of commercial aviation was the Boeing 247 which was built in the early 1930s and carried 10 passengers at 155 miles per hour.
Other days that are also set aside to honor and appreciate aviation advancements include Wright Brothers Day, National Amelia Earhart Day, and Aviation Maintenance Technician Day.
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