August 19 was the chosen day because it also happens to be the birthday of Orville Wright in 1871. Many early aviators had the honor of having their pilot certificates signed by Wright, who lived until 1948.

When the proclamation was codified, it enabled all future U.S. presidents to proclaim August 19 National Aviation Day.

If you missed celebrating this day, put December 17 on your calendar—that is Wright Brothers Day, marking the anniversary of their first powered flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and the “12 seconds that changed the world.”

We at FLYING feel that every day is National Aviation Day, and we should all be doing our best to engage in activities that promote flying. So get out there and do some touch-and-goes to make the Wright brothers proud!

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Aviation entities nationwide will host fly-ins, roast hot dogs, and honor those who preceded us in the grand experiment of air travel. National Aviation Day (NAD) is for pilots, air traffic controllers, fuelers, logistics professionals, flight attendants, and aircraft maintenance technicians. Each of these trades owes a tip of the cap to the decades of individuals that blazed the trail or runway.

Since I am an airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanic, my interest starts with Wright brothers mechanic Charlie Taylor. Taylor was the guy who started it all. You could pull up a chair during your NAD gathering and share what you know about aircraft mechanics. Who knows what little ears will be listening?

The Aircraft Mechanic Conversation

Why is there a sudden urge to get our youth interested in becoming aircraft mechanics? The bottom line is the technical labor shortage. According to a Boeing forecast, the industry needs “to recruit, train, and hire 610,000 new maintenance technicians.” The issue is not going away any time soon.

• READ MORE: The Aviation Mechanic Shortage Is Worse Than You Might Think 

Attempting to keep pace with a growing industry is tough enough, but the flip side is the aging workforce. 

The Associated Press, citing government data on the airline industry, recently reported that more than one-third of mechanics are between 55 and 64 and fewer than 1 in 10 are under 30. Even if we can get new talent involved in aviation maintenance, who will train the recruits? If recruiters can get new aircraft mechanics signed into the ranks, someone has to train them.

The learning curve for aviation maintenance is steep, and newcomers face daunting challenges to get up to speed. Technical manuals are a guide, and newly developed computer-based training (CBT) is another helpful tool, but nothing can replace a strong mentor. I cannot stress that enough.

Sparking an Interest

There has been a surge of aviation technical training avenues in recent years. Some schools introduce aviation and aircraft maintenance to kids in high school. While I applaud these efforts, I think that is still not soon enough. Some youths are already gravitating to their chosen profession in their mid-teens, especially those not headed to a four-year university. They are more likely to join technical trades, such as becoming an A&P mechanic. How do I know? I was one of those kids.

Children are a blank slate—little brain sponges, soaking up their environment and rapidly advancing toward the future at the speed of light. Blink and you just might miss it. I vote we start in elementary school. 

Educational Resources

Sparking interest early in life can be a blueprint for future occupation when children come of age. KidsKonnect offers educational resources for National Aviation Day, including worksheets and activities.

Remember making paper airplanes in school? Well, if you are going to do it, you might as well do it correctly. Here is a page from the Kidspace Children’s Museum website with a video tutorial.

For older kids, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers offers free aerospace activities that are more detailed and complex.

NASA also offers a list of ideas to help generate an interest in aviation for kids. The first suggestion—take a photo with arms stretched like airplane wings— should stand out to you. Most people do this all day long! They even give you the hashtag #NationalAviationDay to include in your photos. We could start a movement. The agency also reminds us of all the incredible technology that goes into airplanes. 

• READ MORE: The Slow, Steady Business of the Evolving A&P Mechanic

NASA also suggests visiting one of its visitor centers or science museums or watching an aviation-themed movie. That looks like a highway to the danger zone for me.

The space agency also advocates taking an introductory flight lesson on building an airplane. Now we are getting somewhere. But remember these don’t all have to be accomplished this year. 

Among other recommendations, NASA also suggests going on a plane-spotting picnic near an airport. This is the best advice of all. Grab a shady spot and pack some grub. My hometown airport, Atlanta Regional (KCCO), has picnic tables under a covered pavilion. Let the kids walk the ramp—supervised, of course. Most regional and GA airports have people on duty at the terminal, so ask them questions. Most are more than happy to help.

The post National Aviation Day Presents Opportunity to Spark Interest appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

It was the tail end of what has come to be known as the Golden Age of Aviation. Only 36 years had passed since Wright made the first powered flight in a kite-like, heavier-than-air craft, but much had changed. Aviation had grown into a bustling, highly competitive industry marked by innovative developments and widespread experimentation. 

Pioneer pilots were regularly setting records for speed, distance, and altitude while pushing airframe and engine technology to the limit and often beyond. With World War II on the horizon, aviation was about to prove its strategic importance domestically and abroad.

Today, aircraft of various shapes and sizes are common sights, yet they remain technological marvels. Aviation Day is a time to reflect on how far aviation has come and consider where it might head in the future. Below are museums and other organizations holding events to mark the occasion.

National Aviation Day

First Flight Society National Aviation Day Celebration
Dare County Regional Airport (KMQI)
Manteo, North Carolina

The First Flight Society will celebrate its fourth annual National Aviation Day event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The free event includes warbirds and other aircraft on display, numerous exhibitors, food trucks, and more. Presentations will include keynote speaker Larry E. Tise, a renowned historian who was the Wilbur & Orville Wright Distinguished Professor at East Carolina University from 2000 to 2015. Tise will give a talk titled “The Elusive Orville Wright from Kitty Hawk and Beyond.“

• READ MORE: Best Fly-In Festivals and Fairs

Wright Brothers National Memorial

Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina
First Flight Airport (KFFA)

If you are already in the Outer Banks area for the festivities at KMQI, you should stick around for an evening program at the Kill Devil Hills site where the 1903 Wright Flyer made history. The National Park Service and its partner organization, Outer Banks Forever, will welcome J. “Bob” Balaram of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, who will give a series of talks on Friday and Saturday. Those unable to attend in person can stream the events. Balaram was chief engineer for NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter during its development, testing, and mission on Mars. The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter made its first Martian flight on April 19, 2021, marking the first powered flight on another planet. 

Wings Over the Rockies Museum

Centennial Airport (KAPA)
Denver, Colorado

Celebrate National Aviation Day with pay-as-you-wish admission at the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. Numerous exhibits include the Bell UH-1M Iroquois helicopter, affectionately known as the Huey, which helped transform the nature of mobile warfare during the conflict in Vietnam. There is also a three-quarter scale model of Luke Skywalker’s X-Wing fighter. You might also check out the museum’s Exploration of Flight center at Centennial Airport. The Air & Space Museum is roughly a 14-mile drive from the airport.

• READ MORE: Late-Summer Air Shows Feature WWII Aircraft

Henry Ford Museum

Dearborn, Michigan
Detroit City Airport (KDET)

We tend to associate Henry Ford with the auto industry but the man sought to move aviation into the mainstream in the same way that he transformed car travel with his Model T. The museum includes a range of aircraft from a Wright Flyer replica to Ford and Fokker tri-motor transports. To help mark National Aviation Day the museum is offering free tours of its Heroes of the Sky exhibit, a flight-themed story time and experiments in aerodynamics using everyday household materials.

Community Fly-In Friday: National Aviation Day

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Members of Microsoft Flight Simulator forums are planning virtual fly-ins to mark National Aviation Day. The group plans to fly to Dayton, Ohio, Orville Wright’s birthplace. Dayton’s other links with aviation include Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the National Museum of the United States Air Force. The group plans to depart from Godman Army Airfield (KFTK) in Fort Knox, Kentucky, and includes a flight plan and suggested aircraft to fly in its announcement. 

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