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It was in 1939 that President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued the first presidential proclamation designating Aug. 19 \u2013 Orville Wright\u2019s birthday \u2013 as a day in which citizens are encouraged to participate in activities that promote interest in aviation. So how will you be a good citizen and observe the day as indicated by the President? Here are ten suggestions \u2014 plus one bonus idea at the end that is a \u201cmust do!\u201d \u2014 for you and your family and friends to consider:<\/p>\n
Have someone take a picture of you and your friends or loved ones stretching out your arms like the wings of an airplane. (For extra brownie points use your hands to make winglets \u2013 one of NASA\u2019s many contributions to aviation.) Tell us how you\u2019re celebrating flight on August 19. Post your photo to X, Facebook, Instagram, or any other social media. Be sure and tag it with #NationalAviationDay<\/strong> so we see it!<\/p>\n Are you traveling by air today or anytime soon? After you settle into your assigned seat buckle up, make sure your seatback and folding tray are in their full upright positions, and then take a moment and think about NASA. Why? Well it might not be immediately visible to you, but every U.S. aircraft and air traffic control tower in operation today uses some kind of NASA-developed technology.<\/p>\n Before you take off and the pilots shut the door, glance into the cockpit. See all the electronic displays? They make up what\u2019s called the \u201cglass cockpit.\u201d NASA did early testing on using the displays to replace heavier and outdated dials and gauges.<\/p>\n Now, look out your window. See the vertical extension on the tip of your airplane\u2019s wing? That\u2019s a \u201cwinglet.\u201d It was originally tested and developed by NASA as a way to reduce drag. In use for many, many years now, winglets have saved billions of gallons of fuel, according to industry. And they even reduce aircraft noise a bit.<\/p>\n Then there are the things you won\u2019t see. It may be a piece of technology buried deep within your jet engine to help it run more efficiently, or it could be computer software installed in air traffic control centers to help controllers manage your flight, gate-to-gate, more efficiently with reduced delays, all in a way that\u2019s more sustainable and friendly to our planet Earth. \u00a0<\/p>\n Exhibits about aviation and on how an airplane flies are popular staples of local science museums. Check out your local science center to see if they\u2019re open and if they have any exhibits on aviation. And even if they don\u2019t, it never hurts to spend some time learning about science.<\/p>\n And if you live within a short drive from Norfolk, VA; Cleveland, OH; or San Francisco, CA, you might consider checking out the visitors centers associated with NASA\u2019s Langley Research Center, Glenn Research Center, or Ames Research Center, respectively. These major NASA field centers play host to the majority of NASA\u2019s aeronautics research. (NASA\u2019s Armstrong Flight Research Center, the fourth of NASA\u2019s aeronautics centers, is located within the restricted area of Edwards Air Force Base, CA, so they do not have a public visitor\u2019s center.)<\/p>\n There\u2019s no shortage of classic aviation-themed movies available to watch in whatever format (DVD, streaming online, in the theater, etc.), from whatever source (Red Box, Netflix, your own library, etc.), and with whatever snacks (popcorn, nachos, Sno-Caps, etc.) are your favorite.<\/p>\n We dare not attempt a comprehensive list because we wouldn\u2019t be able to satisfy everyone\u2019s tastes, but a few NASA aeronautics staff favorites include Jimmy Stewart\u2019s \u201cThe Spirit of St. Louis\u201d and \u201cStrategic Air Command,\u201d John Wayne\u2019s \u201cJet Pilot\u201d (featuring the last time Chuck Yeager flew the X-1 rocket plane), National Geographic\u2019s \u201cLiving in the Age of Airplanes,\u201d and Disney\u2019s animated \u201cPlanes.\u201d Movies that combine aviation and space can be fun, such as \u201cThe Right Stuff\u201d or the documentary \u201cOne More Orbit,\u201d which tells how former NASA astronaut Terry Virts attempts to break the speed record for circling Earth over the poles in a business jet.<\/p>\n Pilots will tell you there is a wonderful sense of freedom in flying, not to mention the incredible views and the personal sense of accomplishment that comes from mastering the skills required to fly. At the same time being a pilot is not for everyone \u2013 but you won\u2019t know unless you try!<\/p>\n Most general aviation airports in the nation have a flight school that offers an introductory flight lesson at a discounted price. Many airports have flying clubs that will introduce you to flight. You also might check to see if there is a Civil Air Patrol in your area.<\/p>\n And if you want a taste of flight from the cockpit without leaving the ground, commercial computer desktop flight simulators such as X-Plane or Microsoft\u2019s Flight Simulator are popular choices and can get you into the virtual sky in short order. <\/p>\n Why not? It doesn\u2019t have to be big enough to actually fly in \u2013 although homebuilt airplane kits are available if you have the money, time and perseverance to complete the job.<\/p>\n Putting together a smaller plastic model kit of one of the world\u2019s most historic aircraft can be just as rewarding and just as educational, especially for younger kids who might be thinking about a career as an engineer or aerospace technician.<\/p>\n In fact, many astronauts will tell you their love of aviation and space began with putting models together as a child. Another idea: Grab some LEGO bricks and build the airplane of your dreams, or perhaps one based on real NASA work like these folks did.<\/p>\n Or make it easy on yourself: fold a paper airplane like this one of NASA\u2019s X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology aircraft and shoot it across the room. Sometimes simple works best.<\/p>\n Ten years ago, for National Aviation Day in 2014, we asked some fellow NASA workers for stories about their first flights. We received some great ones, and we\u2019d love to hear from you about the first time you ever flew in a plane. Post your story online and be sure to use #NationalAviationDay<\/strong> so we find you. Tell us about the first time you took to the air. Where were you traveling? Why? Do you remember what kind of airplane it was? Were you thrilled, or a little scared? Let us know!<\/p>\n NASA\u2019s aeronautical innovators are working to transform air transportation to meet the future needs of the global aviation community. Sounds like a big job, right? It is and there are many ways in which NASA is doing this. Improving an airplane\u2019s aerodynamics, reducing the amount of fuel used by airplanes, making airplanes of all sizes quieter, decreasing the amount of harmful emissions released into the atmosphere, working with the Federal Aviation Administration to improve the efficiency of air traffic control \u2013 the list could go on for many thousands of more words. Bookmark our NASA Aeronautics home page and follow us on Twitter @NASAaero.<\/p>\n There\u2019s also some great education resources that not only help you learn about NASA\u2019s aeronautics research, but about aviation in general. Visit our Aeronautics STEM page to download activities, fact sheets, coloring pages for kids, and much more. Even more fun things to do at home can be found here.<\/p>\n Aviation-themed books, whether fact or fiction, are all over the shelves of your local library \u2013 literally. That\u2019s because there\u2019s no single Dewey Decimal number for aviation. A book about aviation history will be in a different section of the library than a book about how to design an airplane. And fictional books such as the Arthur Hailey classic \u201cAirport,\u201d or autobiographies such as Chuck Yeager\u2019s \u201cYeager,\u201d are off on yet another shelf. Don\u2019t hesitate to ask your reference librarian for help. And when you get back from the library, or while still there, jump online and check out the NASA e-books you can download and own for free.<\/p>\n At Washington DC\u2019s Ronald Reagan airport it\u2019s Gravelly Point. In Minneapolis it\u2019s a new viewing location right in the middle of the airport. If you live near a major international airport, chances are you know the best place where the locals can go to watch aircraft take off and land. Be sure to take heed of any security restrictions about where you can and can\u2019t go.<\/p>\n But once you have your spot picked out then load up your picnic basket with lots of goodies and camp out next to the airport for an afternoon of plane spotting. See how many different types of airplanes you can count or identify. For a truly up-close and personal experience, bring a scanner radio and listen in on air traffic control. Helpful plane spotting tips, as well as livestreams of airport activity, are easily found online with the help of your favorite search engine.<\/p>\n In honor of National Aviation Day, we\u2019ve put together a collection of pictures, videos, and stories that showcase some of NASA Aeronautics\u2019 aeronautical innovators who are working to safely transform aviation for the 21st century. See, watch, and read their stories with this up close and personal look,<\/p>\n