Posted on 08/19/2025 6:22:45 AM PDT by Red Badger
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NATIONAL AVIATION DAY
National Aviation Day on August 19 recognizes the pioneers of human flight.
#NationalAviationDay
For centuries, humans have been fascinated by flight. In ancient China, kites few to investigate the weather. Inventors such as Leonardo da Vinci developed many ideas about flight, too. Gliders and balloons lifted humans into the sky, but none of the inventions gave a person control of where they flew.
Before Powered Flight
The physics of flight and propulsion play key roles in who became pioneers. George Cayley used aerodynamics while designing fixed-wing aircraft. His designs would later inspire Orville and Wilbur Wright.
Since propulsion is one of the primary requirements to lift a human into the sky for flight, it would make sense that an engine could provide that power. Samuel Langley, an astronomer from Boston, designed a steam-powered model called an aerodrome in 1891. It flew for 3/4ths of a mile.
After receiving a grant to build a full-sized aerodrome, Langley's first test crashed. He never made another attempt.
In a bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio, two inventors eagerly began testing their ideas about flight. Brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright, had studied Octave Chanute's 1894 Progress in Flying Machines. The brothers set to work testing their designs, first with gliders. Eventually, they sought to add an engine.
Two American inventors and aviation pioneers, the Wright brothers are credited with inventing and building the world’s first successful airplane and making the first controlled powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight on December 17, 1903.
In 1902, Charles Edward Taylor joined their team in pursuit of powered flight. Since automobile companies couldn't supply an engine light enough and powerful enough, they would have to build it. Taylor, a machinist, set to work building the 12-horsepower engine. It took Taylor 6 weeks to build the engine.
After completing the design in September of 1903, the Wrights returned to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Just months before, they had successfully tested their glider. However, setbacks and weather postponed the powered flight.
It wasn't until mid-December that the brothers finally felt all was in order. After flipping a coin to decide who would pilot the machine, Wilbur climbed aboard. The first attempt failed, only flying 3.5 seconds. However, the brothers learned what worked.
The next attempt on December 17, 1903, Orville took the controls. After launching, the machine flew for 120 feet. Man flew.
Since that day, aviation exploded into the skies. Its applications became immediately apparent to the military. The Wrights consulted with the Army for several years after their success.
Now that humans could fly, they set new challenges - flying across oceans, around the world, and into space.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL AVIATION DAY
Explore the world of aviation. There are so many ways to do it, too!
Read the memoirs and other books about aviation's pioneers. Here are a few to start with:
A Dream of Wings by Tom D. Crough
The Fun of It by Amelia Earhart
Lindbergh by A. Scott Berg
Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History by Keith O'Brien
Three-Eight Charlie: 1st Woman to Fly Solo by Jerrie Mock.
Watch a documentary such as The Making of the Boeing 747 or Kitty Hawk: The Wright Brothers' Journey of Invention.
Explore aviation museums.
Take a flight.
Learn to fly.
Build a model plane.
Use #NationalAviationDay to post on social media and spread the word.
NATIONAL AVIATION DAY HISTORY
In 1939, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt established National Aviation Day by presidential proclamation designating the anniversary of Orville Wright's birthday for the observance. Born August 19, 1871, Orville Wright was still living when President Roosevelt issued the proclamation. Orville Wright continued living for nine more years until his death in 1948.
Proclamation USC 36:I:A:1:118 allows the sitting United States President to proclaim August 19th as National Aviation Day each year. If desired, the President’s proclamation may direct all federal buildings and installations to fly the U.S. flag on that day. The President may encourage citizens to observe the day with activities that promote interest in aviation.
Aviation FAQ
Q. What kind of jobs are in aviation?
A. Aviation is filled with opportunities and pilots aren't the only ones who can benefit. The field requires engineers, mechanics, safety specialists, air traffic controllers, airport managers, logistical engineers, and of course, pilots.
Q. Do pilots have to have 20/20 vision?
A. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, first-class and second-class pilots require 20/20 distance-vision with or without correction. A third-class private pilot requires 20/40 distance-vision or better with or without correction. All pilots require 20/40 near-vision or better with or without correction.
Q. Is there an age requirement to get a pilot's license?
A. Yes. Airplane pilots must be at least 16-years-old to begin flying lessons.
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NATIONAL POTATO DAY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVCaT6FvI_8
Ah, spuds. On August 19 each year, the humble potato takes center stage. In truth, though, doesn't it steal the show at nearly every meal?
#NationalPotatoDay
Whether baked, fried or mashed, these taters bring on the flavor. They are a staple of many meals, too. Filling a void for appetizer dishes and working double duty at suppertime, these versatile root veggies satisfy and fill us up.
According to the International Potato Center, more than 4,000 varieties of potatoes grow around the world. Not only that, but they also come in a variety of beautiful colors and sizes. This starchy carbohydrate comes with no fat or cholesterol and is loaded with Vitamin C and potassium. Depending on your dietary needs and how you prepare your potatoes, this vegetable offers what many are looking for. However, with 26 grams of carbohydrates, it's a no-no in a low-carb lifestyle.
When it comes to the health specs of a potato, we tend to tank the benefits when we prepare them. We fry them and load them with toppings like cheese, sour cream, and butter. Who doesn't love a loaded baked potato? Ok, ok. You can all put your hands down, now.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL POTATO DAY
With so many ways to savor a potato, it shouldn't be too hard to find a way. However, we do have a few tateriffic ways to get you started:
Host a baked potato buffet. Line up all the best toppings such as cheese, jalapenos, bacon, chopped onions, chili, grilled chicken or ranch.
Tried French fries dipped in soft, vanilla ice cream. If you've never had it before, you will be surprised.
Swap out your corn chips with French fries and build a new kind of nacho. Think beer brats, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and sour cream for German flair. Aim for a bit of Irish celebration by using corned beef.
Share your favorite recipes. You know, the ones you always go to when you're craving potatoes. Or, try a new recipe and give it a review.
Make a delicious potato soup. With so many different recipes, one of them is sure to satisfy!
Visit your favorite restaurant and pile on the potatoes. Whether it's an entree or an appetizer, be sure to give the eatery a shout-out!
While you're celebrating, be sure to use #NationalPotatoDay to share on social media.
NATIONAL POTATO DAY HISTORY
The nation's comfort food has been celebrated since at least 2006. Before that National Potato Day celebrations had been cropping up throughout the year all across the country.
Potato FAQ
Q. Which is healthier, the white potato or the sweet potato?
A. The sweet potato edges out the white potato thanks to fiber and vitamins. However, both are quite nutritious. How we prepare these root vegetables makes a bigger impact on our diet than the vegetables themselves. Frying vs. baking, toppings and more will tip the scales on nutrition quickly.
Q. Are there other potato holidays?
A. You bet your sweet potato there is! November is Sweet Potato Awareness Month. In February, we celebrate National Eat a Sweet Potato Day and in March we celebrate National Tater Day. And we can't forget National French Fry Day in July.
Q. How are potatoes prepared?
A. Potatoes can be prepared in a number of ways. Besides baking, boiling, roasting and frying, potatoes are also used to make bread, pasta, hash browns, salads, pancakes, soup, croquettes, among other preparations.
Q. What country produces the most potatoes?
A. In 2016, China produced the most potatoes at more than 99 million tonnes. The United States comes in 5th behind India, Russia, and Ukraine.
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NATIONAL SOFT ICE CREAM DAY
National Soft Ice Cream Day on August 19 gives us a tasty way to cool off on a hot summer day. Whether you enjoy it in a bowl or on a cone, grab some soft serve and enjoy!
#NationalSoftIceCreamDay
In 1934 on Memorial Day weekend in Hartsdale, New York, Tom Carvel had a flat tire. After pulling his ice cream truck into a parking lot, the businessman knew his product was melting. As vacationers drove by, Carvel sold the softened ice cream to them. Surprisingly, they loved the soft ice cream! The potential for a new dessert was not lost on the salesman. Instead of a roving ice cream truck, Carvel could have a fixed location with soft ice cream.
Two years later, Tom Carvel opened his first ice cream store on the site where his truck broke down. In the preceding years, Carvel patented a super low-temperature ice cream machine and created a secret formula ice cream.
It wasn't long before other businesses began to crop up. The hard ice cream industry began to object. Despite both products providing similar flavors, servings, and enjoyment, they were different. Hard ice cream business did suffer a reduction in revenue during the first years of soft ice cream's popularity. Even the Minnesota legislature passed laws prohibiting the sale (technically by law it was considered to be ice milk) of soft-serve ice cream from a machine. It had to be sold pre-packaged. The law was later changed. (Star Tribune, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 19 Aug 1951).
Soft vs. Hard Ice Creams
How different are soft and hard ice creams? While they are made with the same ingredients, soft ice cream has less milk fat. It also has more air than hard ice cream. Both of these factors contribute to the ice cream being more delicate and smoother. The milk fats in the hard ice cream cause it to be firmer when frozen.
Another difference is the temperatures the ice creams are kept frozen. Soft ice cream machines keep a temperature of -6°C. However, hard ice cream is kept at a temperature of -12°C. While that might not seem like a big difference, the evidence is in the ice creams.
HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL SOFT ICE CREAM DAY
There are many ways to enjoy soft ice cream. Order a dipped cone or have a sundae. Soft ice cream comes in a variety of flavors. One that seems to taste better as soft serve is chocolate mint. However, that may just be an opinion. Go out for some soft ice cream and use #NationalSoftIceCreamDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL SOFT ICE CREAM DAY HISTORY
We were unable to find the creator of National Soft Ice Cream Day.
Ice Cream FAQ
Q. How many ice cream holidays are on the calendar?
A. As of 2021, there are 20 ice cream days on the calendar including National Frozen Yogurt Day and National Frozen Custard Day. Most of them land in July which is also National Ice Cream Month.
Q. What are the main ingredients in ice cream?
A. Ice cream's main ingredients include milk, cream, sugar, and eggs. However, many commercial ice creams use a variety of additional ingredients to enhance flavor and improve creaminess. Those ingredients may include corn syrup, natural and artificial flavors, glycerides (a type of fat), guar or xanthan gum to name a few.
Q. Is homemade ice cream healthier than store-bought?
A. It can be. When it comes to making your own ice cream, you can control the ingredients, including the amount of sugar, fat, and type of dairy used. For those who cannot have dairy, many recipes substitute nut milk for cow's milk.
Q. Is ice cream unhealthy?
A. Like any dessert, eating ice cream in moderation is not unhealthy. Limiting serving sizes and eating it as an occasional treat should not impact your health. There are also healthier options available such as low-fat, low-calorie options.
August 19th Celebrated History
1839
At a joint session of the Académie des Sciences and the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, Louis Daguerre reveals the process for his photographic process.
1856
Gail Borden patents his process for making condensed milk - patent no. 15,553.
1861
James Tyndall completes the first ascent of the Weisshorn - the 5th highest peak in the Alps.
1880
Paul Boynton and George Fearn compete in an international swimming race. The race required Boynton to swim 12 miles and Fearn to swim 10. Boynton wins due to Fearn suffering cramps.
1887
Dmitri Mendeleev (founder of the modern-day periodic table) makes a solo ascent by balloon for the sheer purpose of observing a solar eclipse.
1909
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosts its first race. While several records were broken, two men (one driver and one mechanic) were killed during the 250-mile race.
1913
Clarence Crane registers the Life Savers trademark for the first time.
1919
William B. Ward registers the trademark for Hostess.
1950
The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) begins airing Saturday morning television shows for children - and none of them were cartoons either. The two featured shows were Animal Clinic and Acrobat Ranch.
2002
The Smithsonian Museum of American History puts Julia Child's kitchen on display.
2004
Carly Patterson wins the all-around gold medal in gymnastics at the Olympic Games in Athens, becoming the second American to do so. The first? Mary Lou Retton. However, since Retton won her all-round under a boycotted Olympics, Patterson's gold is the first at a non-boycotted Olympics.
2008
Lady Gaga releases her first album - The Fame.
2016
At the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, a six-way tie for first in the equestrian individual jumping competition leads to a jump-off to name the winner.
August 19th Celebrated Birthdays
Seth Thomas - 1785
Thomas pioneered the mass production of clocks.
Charles Hires - 1851
The Philadelphia pharmacist developed a drink he called root beer.
Charles Comiskey - 1859
Beginning his professional baseball career as first baseman for the St. Louis Brown Stockings, Comiskey would go on to be a founding owner of the Chicago White Sox.
Orville Wright - 1871
As a Dayton, Ohio native, Wright, along with his brother Wilbur, would be the first to successfully fly a motor-powered plane.
Gabrielle Coco Chanel - 1883
Founder of the Chanel brand, the French fashion designer's line of products lives on.
Ogden Nash -1902
Nash's light-hearted poetry brought a particular style of humor to the poetry world. He also worked at the publishing house Doubleday and on the staff of the New Yorker. Some examples of Nash's twists of phrase include:
Celery
Celery, raw Develops the jaw, But celery, stewed Is more quietly chewed.
Reflection on Babies
A bit of talcum Is always walcum.
Reflections on Ice-Breaking
Candy Is Dandy But liquor Is quicker.
Saint Alphonsa - 1910
Born Annakkutty in present-day Kerala, India, she would become a religious teacher at Vakakkad. She died at the convent of the Franciscan Clarists at Bharananganam in 1946. In 1986, Pope John Paull II proclaimed her St. Alphonsa, the first saint of Indian origin.
Rose Heilbron - 1914
As an attorney and barrister, Heilbron became the first woman appointed to the Kings Counsel. She broke several other barriers as well, one such first was as a woman judge in 1972.
Ring Lardner, Jr. - 1915
As a journalist and screenwriter, Lardner won two Oscars. The first was for the 1943 film Woman of the Year and the second was for the 1970 film MASH.
Malcolm Forbes - 1919
The businessman and editor took over the publication of Forbes in 1954 after the death of his father, B.C. Forbes.
Edgar Frank Codd - 1923
As a pioneering programmer for IBM, Cobb developed several methods and processes for data processing.
Bill Shoemaker - 1931
One of the best-known jockeys in racing history, Shoemaker was the winningest jockey of his time.
Bettina Cirone - 1933
The one-time fashion model became a photographer in her own right.
Charles Wang - 1944
The entrepreneur is co-founder and CEO of the multibillion-dollar software company Computer Associates International.
Bill Clinton - 1946
Clinton served two terms as the 42nd President of the United States.
Gary Gaetti - 1958
The professional baseball player, Gary Gaetti, played third base for several MLB teams including the Minnesota Twins, St. Louis Cardinals, and Boston Red Sox.
John Stamos - 1963
The actor is best known for his roles in television sitcoms including Full House, Fuller House and Grandfathered.
Lee Ann Womack - 1966
The country music singer is best known for her hit song "I Hope You Dance" for which she earned an Academy of Country Music Award for single record of the year in 2001.
Chynna Clugston - 1975
The comic book creator is known for her works Blue Monday and Queen Bee.
Ping!...................
Charles Edward Taylor’s beautiful brick home was torn down last year. This was after the Air Force spent $1.24 million, plus $77,000 in furnishings, to renovate the Charles Taylor House, a 3,500-square-foot, three-bedroom, three-bathroom Tudor-style brick home.
I saw this idiocy over and over again at WPAFB. Everyone involved in this should be Court-Martialed and booted out of the military.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/air-force-tears-down-historic-150100517.html
https://everythingairplanes.com/father-of-aircraft-maintenance-charles-edward-taylor/
If your pilot makes a wrong move, shoot him with a potato cannon.
2 out of 3 - Joe Biden Day!
I’m waiting for one of our Happy Warriors in the GOP to propose adding the humble potato to the American Flag.
Maybe someone like Tom Tillis or Senator Ted Cruz will bring it to the floor for discussion. Both of them don’t mind shaking things up now and then. After that first discussion comes the decision on which potato would be most appropriate?
Special heads up for Fan Wing aircraft, a technology that should be in widespread use today.
VTOL
quieter
better lift
more stable
etc.
As I recall from earlier readings, the Wrights invented the wind tunnel to design their wings and prop blades, developed a wing-warping system that preceded today's ailerons, developed three axis controls (including a hip cradle) and with the assistance of another, developed a gasoline engine light enough to be used for early aircraft operations.
Still amazing.
It’s amazing they didn’t kill themselves..........................
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