National Aviation Day Observes Rich History of Flight

Industry reflects on century of innovation on anniversary of Orville Wright’s birthday.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 02:30 PM ET

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Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Introducing the next generation to aviation [Credit: Meg Godlewski]

Key Takeaways:

National Aviation Day is celebrated annually on August 19, coinciding with pioneer Orville Wright's birthday, and was officially established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939.
Established just 36 years after the first successful flight, 1939 was a pivotal year, marking significant aviation advancements, the birth of military aircraft designs, and the founding of major organizations like AOPA.
The day serves to celebrate the ability to fly and the evolution of aviation, with observations ranging from flying and visiting museums to watching aviation movies and introducing others to the field.

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Every year on August 19, National Aviation Day offers pilots and aviation enthusiasts a chance to celebrate the ability to take to the skies.

Three men are responsible for the creation of the day: Orville and Wilbur Wright, who successfully achieved powered heavier-than-air-flight in 1903 at Kill Devil Hills near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, who established the observation with a presidential proclamation in 1939.