August 19 Is National Aviation Day – Celebrating the Power of Flight

August 19^th is National Aviation Day in the United States. It is an annual celebration of the history and invention of aviation. It is a day to reflect on the power of flight, in all its capacities.

August 19^th also happens to be the birth date of Orville Wright. Orville, along with his brother Wilbur, is credited with building and piloting the first airplane, the Wright Flyer. Their first flight on December 17, 1903 lasted 12 seconds and traveled 120 feet. They were not the only inventors to build and fly an aircraft at that time, but they were the first to invent controls that made fixed wing flight possible.

In 1939, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt proclaimed August 19^th as National Aviation Day by issuing a Presidential Proclamation, and it has continued each year. The proclamation invites “the people of the United States to observe National Aviation Day with appropriate exercises to further stimulate interest in aviation in the United States.”

A day to stimulate interest in aviation in the U.S.

Some celebrate Aviation Day by visiting Kitty Hawk and the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina; learning more about aviation by reading or watching documentaries; researching famous aviators such as Amelia Earhart, Neil Armstrong, Bessie Coleman, and Chuck Yeager; building model airplanes; watching airplane demonstrations; watching aviation movies; visiting aviation museums; taking flight lessons; flying in a plane or hot air balloon. (Check out NASA’s 10 Favorite Ways to Celebrate National Aviation Day for additional ideas to celebrate.)

Many airports and aviation institutes around the country celebrate with air shows, workshops, and activities. For example, Dare County Regional Airport in Mateo, North Carolina will host a celebration event this year and will feature airline displays, exhibitors, food trucks, a keynote speaker and warbird rides in a 1945 General Motors TBM Avenger Torpedo bomber.

In addition to celebrations, organizations like NASA offer workshops and activities for young people who want to learn more about aviation. For example, NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Ohio, in an effort to support students pursuing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) is offering a one-day hybrid event aimed at celebrating and teaching about the advancements in aviation to inspire middle and high school students. For more information on the virtual and in person STEM event in Ohio, check here.

Aviator attorneys at Slack Davis Sanger

Slack Davis Sanger partners Mike Slack and Ladd Sanger are both licensed pilots who have handled numerous high-profile, complex aviation accident lawsuits.

Mike Slack is a former NASA aerospace engineer who worked on the Apollo-Soyuz and Space Shuttle programs and received special recognition from NASA for his contributions. In 2002, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics named him an Associate Fellow, a unique honor for an attorney.

Ladd Sanger is an FAA-licensed Airline Transport Pilot with a jet type rating and is also a licensed helicopter pilot. Mr. Sanger serves on the Board of Advisers for the SMU Air Law Symposium and is a past Chair of the Aviation Law Section of the American Association for Justice.

For over 25 years, victims of aviation accidents and their family members have chosen the aviation accident lawyers at Slack Davis Sanger to navigate the complex litigation rules associated with air travel to obtain just compensation for their losses. If you or a family member has been a victim in one of these incidents, having a compassionate, hardworking attorney on your side can help you navigate the difficult and tedious work in the aftermath.

Call Slack Davis Sanger at 800-455-8686, or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation today. We operate offices in Dallas, Austin, and Fort Worth to better serve you.