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, Orville Wright's birthday, established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939 to honor the Wright brothers' pioneering work.
By 1939, just 36 years after the first flight, aviation had rapidly evolved from wood-and-fabric designs to advanced metal aircraft, witnessing significant military developments and the founding of key organizations like AOPA.
The day encourages pilots and enthusiasts to celebrate aviation through activities such as flying, visiting museums or airports, watching aviation movies, or introducing youngsters to the world of flight.

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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.