Biplane on Grass
Photo © Katarzyna Lipinska at SXC
National Aviation Day is celebrated every year on the anniversary of Orville Wright’s Birthday - August 19, 1871.
On the cold morning of December 17, 1903, the Wright Brothers Orville and Wilbur set out to attempt another flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Wilbur had achieved a partial flight success a few days earlier, when he had taken the Flyer up for approximately 3 seconds, but his flight had stalled quickly and caused damage to the craft. It was Orville’s turn, and after the necessary repairs were made to the Flyer, Orville lifted off at 10:35 A.M. His flight lasted 12 seconds, and the first fixed wing manned flight was recorded.
When Wilbur had attempted his flight days earlier, he had won a coin toss and attempted the first flight. It is likely due to the fact that Wilbur had won the coin toss that Orville made his successful attempt when he did. Sometimes bad luck pays off.
National Aviation Day always falls on August 19. It is not a public holiday, but it is a federal observance. Each year, the president can declare August 19 National Aviation Day. As part of the declaration, he can request that the flag be displayed on all U.S. Government buildings.
| Day Name | Date | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Friday | August 19 | 2011 |
| Sunday | August 19 | 2012 |
| Monday | August 19 | 2013 |
| Tuesday | August 19 | 2014 |
| Wednesday | August 19 | 2015 |
Observance at Wright Brothers National Memorial – The Wright Brothers National Memorial is a National Park located at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Every year, they celebrate National Aviation Day with activities and lessons for people of all ages. Some activities include flying Kitty Hawk Kites, similar to the ones used by Orville and Wilbur, and talks on how the Wright Brothers solved issues of flight.
Fly a kite. If it's not too hot where you are, kite flying is a great day to celebrate the holiday. Visiting a local aviation museum might be a cooler way to celebrate the day.
Rent an aviation movie. Ideas include Apollo 13, The Aviator, The Spirit of St. Louis and The Tuskegee Airmen. The History Channel also has a large collection of videos on the subject.
Resources
National Park Service