Cleveland, Ohio – August 19 of each year is National Aviation Day, a United States national observation that celebrates the development of aviation. It coincides with the birthday of Orville Wright who, together with his brother Wilbur, made significant contributions to powered flight.
Established in 1939 by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, this holiday was issued a presidential proclamation designating the anniversary of Orville Wright’s birthday, Aug. 19, 1871, to be National Aviation Day. Orville Wright was still alive when the proclamation was issued.
The Wright brothers are credited with inventing aircraft controls that made fixed wing flight possible and making the first controlled powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight on Dec. 17, 1903. Another national observation in the United States is Wright Brothers Day on December 17 each year.
Proclamation USC 36:I:A:1:118 allows the sitting United States President to designate Aug. 19 as National Aviation Day each year and encourages citizens to observe the day with activities that promote interest in aviation.
Some schools organize for students to participate in classroom activities that focus on the topic of aviation such as discussing aviation history and engaging in interactive tasks about airplanes and other means of flight transport, as well as careers associated with the aviation industry.
Use #NationalAviationDay to post on social media and spread the word.
Sources: nationaldaycalendar.com; www.timeanddate.com