National Aviation Day: 7 ways to celebrate
National Aviation Day falls on Saturday, August 19.
National Aviation Day was created in 1939 by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to celebrate the birthday of Orville Wright and highlight the industry's achievements. In honor of this day, we've put together a list of seven things every AVGeek must do in his or her lifetime.
1. Go to a major air show
The must-attend show for all aviation enthusiasts is the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture, the world's largest aviation celebration. Taking place on the last week of July in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Wittman Regional Airport becomes the busiest in the world, handling over 10,000 aircraft movements. Attendees can see thousands of aircrafts on display, ranging from the Boeing 787 to a spectacular display of World War II aircrafts. You can also attend aviation-themed workshops, visit vendor booths, watch aerial shows, indulge in a plate of cheese curds and watch aviation-themed movies at the Fly-in Theater.
2. Visit an aviation museum
The Washington, D.C., area is home to two locations of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. The downtown D.C. outpost is home to the Spirit of St. Louis, the Bell X-1 jet that General Chuck Yeager flew while breaking the speed of sound and the original studio model of the Starship Enterprise featured in the wildly popular 1960s television show Star Trek. The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, near Washington Dulles International, is home to an Air France Concorde, the Boeing 367-80 — a precursor to the 707 jet — and Space Shuttle Discovery.
Some other great aviation museums to consider visiting are:
- The Museum of Flight in Seattle, home to numerous aircraft, spacecraft and galleries.
- The Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, where you'll find museum exhibits and reproductions of the 1903 airplane and 1902 glider.
- The Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona, features a boneyard spanning 2,600 acres and containing 4,000 retired aircraft.
- The Air Museum of Flying in Palm Springs, California, is one of the few museums that allow its visitors to climb inside and explore the exhibits.
3. Take a general aviation discovery flight
Flight schools and general aviation airports across the country offer discovery flights for sightseeing and passengers curious about aviation. Most offer rides on a four-seat piston aircraft like a Cessna Skyhawk or a Piper Cherokee to view cities and towns from a higher view. A discovery flight on average can cost $99 but it is well worth it for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. And who knows? It could be the start of your journey to becoming a pilot.
4. Fly in a hot air balloon
When thinking of aviation, people tend to forget about hot air balloons. They allow passengers to see a city like Palm Springs from a unique vantage point. Balloon Rides Across America offers more information on how to book a hot air balloon ride from certified operators all over the U.S.
5. Become a plane spotter
Airports across the country have great spots for aviation geeks to spot commercial aircraft, but the number-one plane-spotting destination is the Sunset Bar and Grill in St. Maarten, across from Princess Juliana International Airport. Planes swoop down so low on final approach that it's almost unreal. Other great plane-spotting locations include Gravelly Point, a grassy knoll where you can watch an aircraft's final approach coming into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C., or if you like to eat while you plane spot, head to the In-N-Out Burger near Los Angeles International Airport.
6. Visit an aircraft manufacturing plant
It's a thrill for aviation geeks to visit an aircraft production line. The greatest to tour is the Future of Flight Aviation Center, home to the Boeing Factory Tour in Everett, Washington, just 20 minutes north of Seattle. Visitors can take a look at the 747, 777 and 787 jets on the production line during one of the aviation center's 90-minute tours. Or head down south to Piper Aircraft in Vero Beach, Florida, for a facility tour.
7. Fly on an airline's final or inaugural flight
United launched service between San Francisco and Munich, Germany on May 24, and it was quite a party. Airlines like United like to celebrate inaugural flights or new aircraft launches by holding formal ceremonies, throwing celebrations and providing certificates to mark the occasion. It's fun for both the passengers and the crew to participate in these milestone events.
If you go
Visit united.com or use the United app to plan your trip to these exhilarating aviation-themed destinations.
We celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 th through October 15th and take the time to recognize the important contributions of our colleagues of Hispanic descent in the United family.
This year, we hosted virtual events organized by our multicultural business resource group UNITE to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, covering topics ranging from immigration reform to Hispanic leadership. We're also taking a moment to highlight Latinx employees nominated by their peers for their contributions both at and outside of work.
These nominees have demonstrated leadership in their position and through their character. Take a moment to read their own words about how their background and heritage plays a role in the way they interact with customers, in how they support their colleagues and why it brings valuable perspective to their work.
Vania Wit – VP & Deputy Counsel
"I am the Vice President and Deputy General Counsel in the legal department. I am an attorney and have worked in the legal department for over 21 years and am currently responsible for a number of different legal areas – such as litigation, international, commercial and government contracts, labor, employment and benefits, antitrust. I have the privilege of working with a tremendous team of attorneys who are directly leading and managing these areas. One of the things I like most about my job is simply getting to know the backgrounds and personal stories that everyone has about their paths to United or their passion for the industry. Being the daughter of immigrants from South America and growing up in a family who relies heavily on air travel to connect us to our close family and friends is an integral part of my story and what drew me to this industry and this company."
Kayra Martinez – International Flight Attendant, FRA
"I love that my work as a flight attendant brings me all over the world and allows me to connect with diverse people across the globe. Because of my Spanish heritage, I've been able to use my language as a way to connect with passengers, crew members and people from every nationality. In addition, my heritage gives me a very close connection to family, creating community and using inclusion as a way to bring people together. After transferring to Europe, I was able to study German, more Spanish, Italian and Arabic. Outside of work, I'm the director and founder of a nonprofit organization that empowers refugees through art. Hundreds of children and adults fleeing war-torn countries have found healing through my art workshops. These refugees are currently displaced in Greece. Their stunning paintings are then sold in art galleries and communities around the world, raising awareness and putting income directly into the hands of refugee artists."
Adriana Carmona – Program Manager, AO Regulatory Compliance
Harry Cabrera – Assistant Manager, AO Customer Service, IAH
"My desire to help people is what drove me to start my career in Customer Service over two decades ago. Currently I provide support to our coworkers and customers at IAH , the gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean. As a Colombian native celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, I'm proud to see the strength that my fellow Latinos forge every day at United Airlines. Family values are a cornerstone of the Latin community; I consider my coworkers to be part of my extended family. Mentor support throughout the years gave me the opportunity to grow professionally. The desire to do better and help others succeed is part of that heritage. I collaborate with our Latin American operations and create ways to improve performance. No matter what language you speak, the passion for what you do and being approachable makes the difference in any interaction."
Juciaria Meadows – Assistant Regional Manager, Cargo Sales
"During my 28-year career, I've worked across the system in various frontline and leadership roles in Reservations, Customer Service and Passenger Sales in Brazil. I moved to the U.S. in 2012 to work as an Account Executive for Cargo. It did not take too long for me to learn that boxes and containers have as much a voice as a passenger sitting in our aircraft. My job is to foster relationships with shippers, freight forwarders, cosignees, etc. and build strong partnerships in fair, trustworthy and caring ways where United Cargo will be their carrier of choice. That's where my background growing up in a Latino family plays an important role in my day-to-day interactions. I've done many wonderful sales trainings provided by United and my academic background , but none of them taught me more than watching my parents running their wholesale food warehouse. Developing exceptional relationships with their customers, they always treated them with trust and respect. They were successful business people with a big heart, creative, always adding a personal touch to their business relationships and I find myself doing the same. It's a lesson that is deep in my heart."
Shanell Arevalo – Customer Service Representative, DEN
