Franklin Delano Roosevelt made August 19 the official National Aviation Day with a presidential proclamation in 1939. The date honors Orville Wright’s birthday and the year reflects a particularly exciting time in aircraft development.
It was the tail end of what has come to be known as the Golden Age of Aviation. Only 36 years had passed since Wright made the first powered flight in a kite-like, heavier-than-air craft, but much had changed. Aviation had grown into a bustling, highly competitive industry marked by innovative developments and widespread experimentation.
