Creative, Educational, and Fun Ways to Make the Day Soar
Every year on August 19th, aviation enthusiasts, students, families, and educators celebrate National Aviation Day—a holiday that honors not only the incredible advancement of flight but also the birthday of Orville Wright, one of the Wright brothers who invented and flew the world’s first successful airplane.
While you don’t need to visit an airfield or attend a formal event to take part, celebrating National Aviation Day at home can be just as meaningful—and honestly, even more fun. Whether you’re teaching your kids about the science of flight or just want an excuse for a family movie night featuring planes, this day is full of possibilities.
Below, you’ll find DIY ideas to help you celebrate at home—whether you’re aiming for educational activities, hands-on crafts, or just a little sky-high fun.
🛫 What Is National Aviation Day?
National Aviation Day is observed every year on August 19th in the United States to honor the birth of Orville Wright, one of the aviation pioneers who forever changed human history by building and flying the world’s first successful airplane. The holiday was officially established in 1939 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and it has since become a day to recognize the achievements of the aviation industry and the people who make flight possible.
From the Wright brothers’ first flight in 1903 to today’s modern jets and spacecraft, aviation has revolutionized how we connect, travel, and explore. National Aviation Day is the perfect opportunity to reflect on that journey—and inspire future generations to keep reaching for the skies.
✂️ 9 DIY Ideas to Celebrate National Aviation Day at Home
Whether you’re looking for fun things to do with your kids, want to spark a love of science, or just enjoy themed activities, these DIY ideas bring the celebration right to your home.
🛩️ 1. Make and Fly Paper Airplanes
Simple, nostalgic, and endlessly entertaining
One of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to mark the day is with a good old-fashioned paper airplane contest. Everyone—from kids to grandparents—can fold and fly their own plane.
🧰 What You’ll Need:
- Standard printer paper (or try cardstock for a challenge)
- Markers, crayons, stickers for decorating
- Measuring tape or masking tape for marking distance
🛠️ How to Do It:
- Let each person fold their own paper plane—bonus points for using different designs like the classic dart or glider.
- Give everyone a few minutes to decorate their aircraft.
- Head to the backyard, hallway, or living room and hold a mini flight competition.
- Longest flight
- Most loops
- Coolest design
- Crash landing award (yes, it’s a thing!)
💡 Educational Tip: Teach kids how real airplanes fly—introduce terms like lift, thrust, drag, and gravity in simple terms.
🧠 2. Host an “Aviation 101” Learning Session
Turn your home into a flight school
Learning the history of aviation and how flight works doesn’t have to feel like a lecture. With a few visuals and some real-life examples, you can make it exciting.
✍️ Topics You Can Cover:
- The story of Orville and Wilbur Wright
- Major milestones in flight: first plane, first woman pilot, first jet
- How airplane engines work
- The importance of flight in modern life (transport, shipping, military, etc.)
Use online videos, draw diagrams, or even act out the story of the Wright brothers for younger kids.
🎥 Try watching YouTube clips or visiting the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum’s virtual exhibits for visuals.
🎨 3. Craft an Airplane (or an Entire Airport)
Perfect for creative minds and little hands
If your family loves arts and crafts, then it’s time to break out the glue and paint. You can build airplanes from almost anything: popsicle sticks, clothespins, cardboard, and more.
✂️ Ideas to Try:
- Clothespin Airplanes: Use clothespins as the body and glue popsicle sticks as wings and tails.
- Toilet Paper Roll Jet: Add construction paper wings and use foil to mimic jet engines.
- Foam Plate Flying Disks: Cut the centers out and decorate them like vintage flying saucers.
Make it even more fun by building an entire cardboard airport, complete with terminals, control towers, and runways on your living room floor.
📚 4. Read Aviation-Themed Books
Storytime that inspires and educates
Books are a powerful way to introduce kids to the world of aviation. Whether you’re snuggling up for a bedtime story or encouraging independent reading, these selections will keep imaginations flying.
📖 Top Picks for Kids:
- “The Noisy Airplane Ride” by Mike Downs
- “Planes Fly!” by George Ella Lyon
- “I Am Amelia Earhart” by Brad Meltzer
📚 For Older Readers or Adults:
- “The Wright Brothers” by David McCullough
- “West with the Night” by Beryl Markham
- “Fly Girls” by Keith O’Brien
If you’re short on books, visit your local library’s e-book section or try audiobook versions while crafting or cooking.
🎬 5. Have an Aviation Movie Night
Kick back and take off into cinematic skies
Whether you’re watching a heroic pilot story or a cartoon about flying machines, movie night is a relaxing way to celebrate the theme of flight.
🎥 Great Family-Friendly Choices:
- Planes (Disney) – Perfect for kids, funny and lighthearted
- Fly Away Home – A touching story about family and nature
- Porco Rosso – A beautiful animated film for older kids
✈️ More Serious or Adult-Friendly Options:
- Sully (based on the Hudson River landing)
- Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick – For some high-octane fun
- The Aviator – A deep dive into aviation history through Howard Hughes
Pair your film with themed snacks like “cloud cupcakes,” “jet fuel punch,” or “runway pretzels.”
Related Post: Happy National Aviation Day! 100+ Wishes to Celebrate the Legacy of Flight
🍪 6. Bake Airplane-Inspired Treats
For the sweet tooth who loves to fly
Let your kitchen take off with some aviation-themed baking!
🍰 Recipe Ideas:
- Airplane Sugar Cookies: Use a cookie cutter and decorate with colored icing.
- “Cloud” Cupcakes: White frosting or marshmallows make these light and fluffy.
- Runway Brownies: Add white icing lines across the top to mimic landing strips.
If you’ve got younger kids, decorating cookies together is a fun hands-on activity that tastes just as good as it looks.
📸 7. Dress Up as a Pilot or Flight Attendant
Imaginative play for little adventurers
Let kids pretend they’re soaring through the skies in their very own cockpit. Dress-up time can spark imaginative storytelling and lots of laughter.
🎩 DIY Dress-Up Suggestions:
- Create pilot wings out of cardboard or felt
- Use scarves and hats to mimic vintage aviation gear
- Pretend to make in-flight announcements or go through a “safety briefing”
Set up chairs in rows to create a pretend plane, serve snacks, and role-play takeoffs and landings. You’ll be amazed how seriously kids take the role of captain!
🧑💻 8. Take a Virtual Aviation Museum Tour
Explore without leaving home
Several museums offer virtual tours perfect for learners of all ages. You can browse real-life exhibits, read historical placards, and see full aircraft models.
🌐 Try These Online Tours:
- Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (airandspace.si.edu)
- The Museum of Flight (Seattle, WA – museumofflight.org)
- San Diego Air & Space Museum (sandiegoairandspace.org)
Make it interactive by asking kids to pick their favorite plane or aircraft and explain why they like it.
💌 9. Send a Thank You Card to a Pilot or Veteran
Gratitude never goes out of style
Celebrating aviation should also mean honoring those who fly for a living or have served in the military.
- Write a letter to a commercial airline pilot, thanking them for their service in safely transporting people.
- Send a message or handmade card to a retired military aviator or Air Force veteran in your community.
- Don’t know anyone personally? Consider sending notes to a local VA center or posting on community boards.
💙 A simple “Thank you for helping us reach the skies safely” goes a long way.
🛬 Final Thoughts: Make National Aviation Day Meaningful and Fun
Celebrating National Aviation Day at home isn’t just about airplanes—it’s about imagination, curiosity, and recognizing the wonders of flight. Whether you’re building crafts, baking cookies, diving into aviation history, or writing a thank-you letter, your efforts help keep the spirit of flight alive and meaningful.
So go ahead—fold that paper plane, turn your living room into a runway, or fly through a documentary. However you choose to celebrate, do it with wonder, joy, and appreciation for the skies above.