National Aviation Day

Celebrating National Aviation Day

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Sculpture at the Wright Brothers National Monument _courtesy National Park Service

Today (August 19) is National Aviation Day, which celebrates the development of aviation and marks Orville Wright’s birthday.

Airports and aviation fans around the country will be noting the day in various ways.

Courtesy CVG

At Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), they’ll be celebrating with two events.

*From 11:30 a.m to 1:30 p.m. CVG is inviting community members to stop by the Airport Viewing Area to watch planes take off and land and enjoy a family-friendy outing with the Kona Ice truc, the CVG fire truck, games and other activities.

*From 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. CVG and Graeter’s Ice Cream will be greeting arriving passengers with samples of ice cream. There will also be a performance from ArtsWave Presents and aviation-themed giveaways in the terminal.

Mural honoring Wright Brothers – at Tampa International Airport

On National Aviation Day, one of my traditions is to remember Katharine Wright, Orville and Wilbur’s sister, who was often referred to as “The Third Wright Brother.”

Don’t know about her? That’s because Orville tried to have Katharine’s role in the brothers’ accomplishment erased from history.

Here’s a short feature story I produced about Katherine Wright back in 2003 for National Public Radio as part of my Hidden Treasures Radio Project series.

National Aviation Day and the 3rd Wright Brother

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At Seattle's Museum of Flight

In 1939 President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed August 19  – Orville Wright’s birthday – to be National Aviation Day.

It’s a great excuse (as if you really need one) to celebrate aviation, aviation history, aviators through the ages and how fun it is to fly.

But ever since I learned the story of Orville and Wilbur Wright’s sister, Katherine, I make sure to pay homage to her on this day.

Few people even know the Wright Brothers had a sister. But without Katherine who, for example, kept the bicycle shop running while her brothers were out doing their thing in the Kitty Hawk dunes, National Aviation Day may have had a very different back story.

Here’s a link to a radio piece titled Katherine Wright: The Forgotten Wright Brother,  that I put together for National Public Radio (way back in 2003!) on Katherine Wright. When the Wright Brothers were all the rage, Katherine was known as the 3rd Wright Brother and most certainly should be remembered on National Aviation Day.

Take a listen and let me know what you think.

 

CVG celebrating National Aviation Day – with hot dogs, ice cream

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Courtesy Henry Ford Museum

 

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) is celebrating National Aviation Day (Aug 19), which commemorates the history and Orville Wright’s birthday, with ice-cream, chili and aviation-themed giveaways.

 

More than 2,000 arriving passengers will be treated to Gold Star Chili cheese coneys (hot dogs) and Graeter’s Ice Cream. There will also be a band, giveaways and other surprises at the Welcome Point of the CVG Terminal.

 

CVG will also host a scavenger hunt on social media for passengers to find Wilbur Wright in the Terminal and two Concourses. Hints will be shared on Twitter and prizes will be awarded to the first passengers who spot Wilbur, snap a photo with him, and share on CVG’s Twitter account.

 

And what’s National Aviation Day without some plane spotting? At 2 p.m., there will also be free Mr. Softee ice-cream (first-come, first-served) and aviation-themed treats out at the airport’s airplane viewing area (1459 Donaldson Hwy, Erlanger, KY). 

 

 

 

 

 

Where to celebrate National Aviation Day

Aviation history

Sculpture at the Wright Brothers National Monument _courtesy National Park Service

Sculpture at the Wright Brothers National Monument _courtesy National Park Service

 

Friday, August 19, is not only Orville Wright’s birthday, its National Aviation Day, established in 1939 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to celebrate and commemorate the history and development of aviation in America.

NASA has some ideas on how you can mark the day, as do the people who will be gathering at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in North Carolina, at the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park in Ohio, and at the many other national parks around the country with aviation connections.

On Friday there will be also be activities honoring National Aviation Day in a number of airports around the country.

From 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Miami International Airport is inviting travelers to experience what it feels like to be a pilot instead of just a passenger by offering complimentary rides in two flights simulators on loan from Miami Dade College’s Eig-Watson School of Aviation.

The airport will also be offering a variety of fun and educational aviation-themed activities and handing out paper airplanes and other treats and hosting a photo competition for the best aviation photo.

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport is celebrating National Aviation Day with a Queen City classic:

Between 3 and 5 pm, 2,000 passengers arriving at CVG will receive a complimentary Cheese Coney – a hot dog in a steamed bun topped with mustard, chili, onions, and shredded cheddar cheese – courtesy of the Skyline Chili. Passengers will also be able to pick up aviation-themed giveaways such as pilot’s wings, toy airplanes and bag tags and take selfies with a variety of fun props.

Get ready for National Aviation Day

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Monday, August 19, 2013 is both Orville Wright’s birthday and National Aviation Day and the place to celebrate will be the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina.

Wright Flyer Sculpture

Wright Flyer Sculpture – Courtesy NPS

Park fees will be waived all day and there will be a full schedule of events, including a special Junior Flight Ranger Program, talks about the Wright Brothers and their accomplishments, book signings, kite flying, paper airplane building and lots of other activities.