NASA's Langley Research Center mounted the Navy's Brewster XF2A-1 Buffalo in the Full-Scale Tunnel, 1938, Hampton, Virginia

Testing the future of flight. National Aviation Day

National Aviation Day, observed on August 19, celebrates the history of flight and the people who helped shape it. The day honors Orville Wright, whose pioneering work with his brother Wilbur helped launch the age of powered aviation.

Established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, the observance recognizes aviation's impact on transportation, science, defense, and exploration. From the first powered flights to modern aircraft and spacecraft, aviation continues to connect people, expand knowledge, and inspire innovation.

Today's image captures aviation research in action. In 1938, engineers at what is now NASA's Langley Research Center mounted the Navy's Brewster XF2A-1 Buffalo fighter prototype in the Full-Scale Tunnel in Hampton, Virginia. There, researchers studied airflow around the aircraft and tested ways to reduce drag, the force that slows objects moving through the air. Experiments like these helped improve aircraft performance and advance the science of aerodynamics long before the space age began.