National Aviation Day, which has been an official holiday on August 19 since 1939, has passed by quietly in the past, mostly unheralded, but this year, it’s getting a lot of attention. NASA has been promoting it on social media with a pair of Twitter hashtags (#SpreadYourWings and #NationalAviationDay) and an invitation to post your picture with your arms stretched out like wings to show your love of flying. NASA also posted 10 ways to celebrate the day, including taking a flight lesson, going planespotting, or watching an aviation movie. Also, the day will be honored with an event in Washington, D.C., where a film about Bob Hoover, “Flying the Feathered Edge,” will be shown at the U.S. Capitol’s Visitor Center Theater.
CNN’s resident aviation reporter Thom Patterson also gave the day some ink, noting, “Hey, aviation … You deserve some respect. Somebody should throw you a damn party. The country needs to give you a day all to yourself.” Patterson also offers a list of suggestions for celebrating the day, including visiting a museum or going for a ride in a sailplane. The day will also be celebrated at the Wright Brothers National Memorial, at Kitty Hawk, N.C., with aircraft displays and a speaker program from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The day was established by President Franklin Roosevelt to honor the birthdate of Orville Wright.
