In 1939, President D. Roosevelt issued the first presidential proclamation designating August 19 as the National Aviation Day.
August 19, 1871, is the birthday of aviator Orville Wright.
The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, were pioneer aviators in the United States. Orville was the first person to successfully fly an airplane on December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
Citizens are encouraged to participate in activities that promote interest in aviation.
Read also: Best Travel Subscription Boxes for Kids
Interesting Facts about the National Aviation Day
* Theodore Roosevelt became the first U.S. president to fly on a plane. He flew on a Wright flyer on Oct. 11, 1910.
* Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij (KLM), formerly known as Royal Aviation Company, is the world’s oldest airline still in operation.
* The first African-American woman and Native American woman pilot was Bessie Coleman.
* United Airlines hired its first female flight attendants in 1930. The world’s first female stewardess was Ellen Church.
* English aviator George Cayley is the Father of Aviation. He was the one who built the first glider that could fly short distances.
* The fear of flying is called aviophobia.
Reference: National Aviation Day: Interesting Facts And Ways To Celebrate. (2021, August 20). International Business Times – US Ed.
Aviation-themed Kid’s Subscription Boxes
1. KiwiCo – Fun with Flight
Activity: Paper Plane
Other activities in the box: Kite & Rocket Launcher
Age: 5+
Cost: $24.95 (for bulk purchases only)
You can order the Fun with Flight box here or check out other KiwiCo subscription boxes.
2. Green Kid Crafts – Soaring into Flight box
Activities: Wooden Airplane Kit, Glider kit, DIY Paper Airplane Kit (with 3 different designs), and Dragonfly spinner kit
Other activities in the box: Homemade Hovercraft and Bernoulli’s Experiment
*Plus a 12-page S.T.E.A.M. magazine all full of comics, games, puzzles, and more aerodynamics learning opportunities
Age: 4+
Cost: $34.95 + Free US Shipping
You can order the Soaring into Flight box here.
Read also: Around the World Box with Green Kid Crafts Subscription Box
3. Little Passport – Create + Play: Flight
Activities: DIY glider plane, DIY stunt plane
Other activities: DIY wind vane, trading cards, sticker sheet, instruction guide, comic, and activity book
This is also included in the Science Junior Subscription Line.
If you buy a single box and part of the Science subscription, you might get it again. However, this is the 20th box in the subscription plan.
Age: 5+
Cost: $29.95 + free shipping
You can order a single activity box or subscribe to Little Passport’s monthly subscriptions.
Aviation-themed Snail Mail for Kids
1. Post From the Past
Letter: Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart – Post From The PastMonthly – £6.95 | Past letters – £10.00 + Free worldwide shipping from the UK.
» https://homeedprintables.com «
Read also: Snail Mail Subscriptions For Kids
How to celebrate the National Aviation Day
1. Take a pic with an airplane
2. Visit a science museum or an aviation museum
Check out your local science center or any exhibits about aviation and learn how an airplane flies.
Alaska Aviation Museum
3. Watch an aviation-themed movie!
You can watch the Pixar animated film, Planes, with your kids! For adults, enjoy watching aviation-themed movies such as Top Gun, Air Force One, Non-stop, Flight Plan, Catch Me If You Can, and so much more! Any more suggestions?
3. Read an aviation-themed book!
There are several airplane books you can read to your kids. Check out our collection.
4. Take an introductory flight lesson (or an air sightseeing tour)
Most general aviation airports have a flight school or flying clubs that offer an introductory flight lesson at a discounted price.
I have done a discovery flight with Concord Aviation in Miami. It is a wonderful feeling to be able to fly a plane. Although, for now, I will stick to flying as a passenger and leave the flying to my husband. Lol.
You can also try commercial computer desktop flight simulators such as X-Plane 11 or Microsoft’s new Flight Simulator for a virtual experience.
5. Plane spotting
This is one of our favorite pastimes. In Anchorage, we would stroll the grassy shore by the Lake Hood Floatplane base and watch planes take off and land.
6. Build a paper airplane
Why not? Your kids will actually enjoy flying them. Or try one of the aviation-themed subscription boxes for hands-on STEAM learning.
7. Tell us about your first flight or your kid’s first flight!
Tell us about your first flight. Where were you traveling? Why? Do you remember what kind of airplane it was? Were you thrilled, or a little scared? Let us know!
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