The first “A” in NASA stands for airlines – so, naturally means today, August 19, National Air Day, is one of our favorite days of the year!
In 1939, President Franklin Roosevelt first announced National Aviation Day in 1939 to celebrate the birthday of aviation pioneer Orville Wright, who, with his brother Wilbur, was the first to achieve power flight in 1903.
Since the President first commemorated the occasion, Americans have come together every year in the annual flight celebrations, and it’s time to revel in spreading our wings and glide on Earth’s bonds.
Everyone at NASA shared the celebration. We love everything we fly, whether it’s going into space or in the atmosphere of Earth.
Our aviation innovators are committed to improving aircraft design to carry out groundbreaking new technologies in high-speed flight, aircraft and propulsion methods, aerospace engineering modeling, and automated airspace and safety management.
Our aeronautical research legacy dates back over 100 years. We help air travel become a safe, efficient and reliable mode of transportation. If you are going to the airport, be aware of the aviation technology developed by NASA that you may see on your flight:
How else can you celebrate National Aviation Day? Here are seven ideas:
Explore your local science center to explore exhibitions about aviation and how the aircraft flies. If you live a short drive from Norfolk, Virginia; Cleveland or San Francisco, you may consider checking the visitor centers associated with NASA’s Langley Research Center, Glen Research Center or Ames Research Center, respectively. These major NASA field centers chair most of NASA's aviation research. (NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center, the fourth of NASA's Aviation Center, is located within a restricted area of Edwards Air Force Base, California, so they do not have a public visitor center.)
There are no shortage of classic aviation themed movies (streaming, DVD, cinema, library rental, etc.) to watch in any format, as well as any snacks (popcorn, nachos, cornflakes, etc.). We dare not try a comprehensive list, but a great starting point is our documentary “X-59: NASA's “Quesst”, for quiet supersonic flights,” which can be streamed on NASA+.
why not? It is not necessarily big enough to actually fly – the plastic model kit of the world’s historic aircraft may make just as meaningful and educational, especially for kids who may consider pursuing a career in an engineer or technician. In fact, many astronauts will tell you their love for aviation, and space begins with putting models together as a kid. Another idea: grab some LEGOs and build your dream plane. Or make yourself relaxed, fold paper planes and shoot throughout the room.
The pilot will tell you the feeling of freedom of flying, not to mention the incredible perspective and personal accomplishment. Meanwhile, being a pilot is not for everyone, but you won't know unless you try it! Many general aviation airports in the United States have a flight school that offers introductory flight classes at discounted prices. And if you want to taste the flight without leaving the ground, a computer desktop flight simulator such as Microsoft Flight Simulator or X Plane is a popular choice to bring you into the virtual sky in a short time.
Literally, aviation-themed books, whether facts or novels, are all over the shelves of your local library. That's because aviation does not have a single Dewey decimal number. Books on aviation history will be in another part of the library with books on how to design aircraft. and creative nonfiction books like Mark Vanhoenacker’s “Voice of the Sky” or Eileen Collins’ autobiography “through the glass ceiling to the stars.” Don't hesitate to ask your librarian for help. And, when you're back from the library, or still there, jump online and check out the NASA e-books that can be downloaded and owned for free.
At Washington National Airport, this is gravel. In Tampa, Florida, this is an international shopping center. If you live near a major international airport, you probably know the best places for locals to watch the plane take off and get close to landing. Be sure to be aware of any security restrictions on where you can and cannot go. But once you pick a location, then load the picnic basket and camp for one night's plane discovery. See how many different types of aircraft you can calculate or identify.
NASA's aviation innovators are working to transform air transport to meet the future needs of the global aviation community. Sounds big, right? Here are a variety of ways NASA does this. Improve the aerodynamics of the aircraft and make it more efficient and quieter, in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration to improve air traffic control – the list could last thousands of words. Bookmark the NASA Aeronautics theme page and follow us on social media @nasaaero.
So remember the days of air in this country, when you fly, NASA is with you!