ATLANTA — A national day to honor and celebrate aviation in the United States is inspiring individuals into aviation related careers and increasing the popularity of local air shows each year.
National Aviation Day is celebrated each year on August 19, beginning with the signing of a proclamation in 1939 by President Franklin Roosevelt. The date was chosen to honor the birthday of Orville Wright, the first to pilot a powered aircraft.
Since the early days of aviation, the growth of personal flight across the nation has proven to be safer, more affordable, and at an all time high. Many of today’s young civilian pilots and engineers will aim for a career in commercial or military aviation.
“As an aerial demonstration team, we celebrate aviation all year round,” Air Force Capt. Kip Sumner of the F-35A Demonstration Team told AvGeekery.com. “To be able to showcase our Airmen and fly the world’s most advanced 5th-generation fighter for the American public is a privilege and an honor.”
Air shows have witnessed an upswing in popularity with the growth of live streaming apps. Social media accounts of various military and civilian demonstration teams have grown in the last five years.
“We hope Aviation Day inspires people to pursue their passions, and enjoy what we love doing everyday,” Sumner added. “Anyone can be interested in aviation. Even if they don’t fly, and we can’t wait to see what the next generation of aviation enthusiasts are capable of.”
Attendance at air shows across America continue to grow with the addition of new show sites each year. Most who attend the weekend events are drawn by the family-friendly atmosphere and the value of an air show.
The Navy’s Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds arrive today at Chicago and Long Pond, Penn., respectively, for their air shows. Four major air shows are scheduled for this weekend across America.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will promote aviation across the globe. NASA is encouraging the public to “spread your wings” and share photographs via social media taken at an airport or aboard an aircraft to celebrate the day.
“Aviation is more than just a mode of transportation,” said AvGeekery.com founder Jeff Gilmore, a pilot himself who has logged over 3,700 hours of flying time. “It’s the realization of a dream that every human has had which connects societies and powers economies at a scale we’ve never seen before.”
Since the first untethered hot air balloon flight by two French men in November 1783; the Wright Brothers first powered aircraft flight in December 1903; and the first landing on the Moon by Armstrong and Aldrin in 1969, humankind continues to look skyward to travel.
(Charles A Atkeison reports on aerospace and technology. Follow his updates via social media @Military_Flight.)
