The first National Aviation Day was created on August 19, 1939, by President Franklin Roosevelt’s presidential proclamation. This day while important to pilots and others in the aviation industry is simply a federal “observance” and not a public holiday. However, holiday or not, it does give our aviation enthusiasts opportunity to celebrate aviation’s many achievements.
Aviation Day happens to also be the birthday of Orville Wright, who along with his brother, Wilbur, is credited with building and flying the world’s first steerable plane. There is a replica of Brazil’s early plane currently housed in Wings Over Miami’s hangar. The Demoiselle is often considered by some to have beaten the Wright Brothers to the air… But, that fact is hotly disputed, depending on which country’s aviation history you follow.
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