National Aviation Day celebrates the development and history of aviation in the United States. It’s a federal observance dedicated to promoting interest in aviation and commemorating the pioneers who made powered flight possible.
Quick Facts
When is it?: August 19 annually
Tagged as: Federal Aviation Observance
What’s the hashtag?: #NationalAviationDay
When was it founded?: 1939
Who founded it?: President Franklin D. Roosevelt
History
President Franklin D. Roosevelt established National Aviation Day through a presidential proclamation in 1939. The date was specifically chosen to coincide with Orville Wright’s birthday, who along with his brother Wilbur, achieved the first successful powered flight. The proclamation allows each sitting president to declare August 19 as National Aviation Day and direct federal buildings to fly the U.S. flag.
Timeline
• 1903: Wright brothers achieve first powered flight at Kitty Hawk
• 1918: First U.S. airmail flight from Long Island to Philadelphia
• 1927: Charles Lindbergh completes first trans-Atlantic flight
• 1939: National Aviation Day established
• 1946: Congress officially commemorates Wright brothers’ first flight
Dates for Next Year
| Year | Month | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | August | 19 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | August | 19 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | August | 19 | Thursday |
| 2028 | August | 19 | Saturday |
| 2029 | August | 19 | Sunday |
| 2030 | August | 19 | Monday |
How It’s Observed
People celebrate by visiting aviation museums, attending airshows, building model airplanes, and participating in aviation-related activities. Federal buildings fly the American flag, and many organizations host educational events about aviation history and technology.
Fun Facts About Aviation
• The Wright brothers’ first flight covered less distance than a modern Boeing 747’s wingspan
• Only 10 people witnessed the Wright brothers’ first powered flight
• The Boeing 747 consists of approximately 6 million parts
• About 10,000 planes are in the sky at any given time
• The first passenger airliner, Boeing 247, carried 10 passengers at 155 mph
Quiz
- Who established National Aviation Day?
- What significant event happened at Kitty Hawk?
- How long was the Wright brothers’ first flight?
-(Answers: 1. Franklin D. Roosevelt, 2. First powered flight, 3. 12 seconds)
FAQs
Q: Why August 19?
A: It’s Orville Wright’s birthday
Q: Is it a federal holiday?
A: No, it’s a federal observance
Q: Can anyone celebrate?
A: Yes, all Americans are encouraged to participate
Related Observances
• Wright Brothers Day
• National Paper Airplane Day
• Aviation Maintenance Technician Day
• National Amelia Earhart Day
• International Civil Aviation Day