What Are You Doing for National Aviation Day?

Museums and aircraft enthusiasts mark the occasion with fly-ins and reflection.

Thursday, August 18, 2022 at 12:20 PM ET

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National Aviation Day marks the anniversary of Orville Wright's birth. He piloted history's first powered flight in 1903. [Courtesy: National Archives]

Key Takeaways:

National Aviation Day is celebrated annually on August 19th, honoring Orville Wright's birthday and commemorating aviation's rapid development, encouraging reflection on its past and future.
Several organizations and museums across the United States are hosting special events to mark National Aviation Day, offering various ways to engage with aviation history and technology.
These events include airshows, presentations by aviation experts (such as NASA's Mars Helicopter chief engineer), special museum admissions and activities, and even virtual community fly-ins.

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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.