The Cranfill Sumner Aviation Law Practice Group wishes all of their aviation friends, clients, and colleagues a great National Aviation Day.
Did you know that the holiday coincides with Orville Wright’s birthday? August 19, 1871. The holiday was established in 1939. Mr. Wright was alive when the first Aviation Day was celebrated and for 9 years thereafter.
Fun Facts about the Wright Brothers:
- Wilbur was actually the winner of a coin toss to see which brother would be “first in the air,” but his attempt was unsuccessful and caused minor damage to the aircraft. Three days later, Orville, lay on his stomach on the aircraft’s lower wing and took off for 12 glorious airborne seconds.
- Orville flew the first aircraft in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina wearing a coat and tie!
- The brothers chose the sand dunes at Kill Devil Hills because it had high winds to launch them, and soft sand to land them.
- Orville and Wilbur promised their father that they would never fly together, because their father feared losing both sons in an accident. The only exception was on May 25, 1910 when both brothers took a six-minute flight near Dayton.
- Neil Armstrong carried a piece of the Wright Flyer to the moon, inside his spacesuit pocket was a piece of the fabric from the left wing of the original 1903 aircraft and a piece of wood from the left propeller.
- The Wright Flyer I cost about $1,000 in 1903 to make.
- Wilbur invented the “wing-warping” system that twisted the wings causing the glider or aircraft to roll left or right.
- After making modifications to the Flyer III aircraft, the brothers were able to fly figure-eight’s over Huffman Prairie, for almost half an hour before fuel ran out.
- The brothers opened the first civilian flight training school in 1910 in Montgomery, AL.
Please let us know what your plans are for celebrating National Aviation Day!
