An old dream takes flight

Established in 1939 to honor Orville Wright's birthday, National Aviation Day kicks off a week-long celebration of America's long history of flight. Pioneers Orville and Wilbur Wright designed, built, and flew the world's first engine-powered airplane near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in 1903. America's love of flight, however, goes all the way back to 1793, when President George Washington watched a hot air balloon launch in Philadelphia.