National Airborne Day

A brave paratrooper soaring through the sky, surrounded by billowing clouds and a scenic landscape below, wearing a colorful jumpsuit.. — National airborne day illustration

So, you're curious about National Airborne Day, are you? You're in for a thrilling dive, my dear friend! This is a day that champions the daredevil paratroopers who plunge from the skies with only large pieces of cloth to prevent their speedy introduction to the ground.

When is Airborne Day?

It's national airborne day on the 16th August.

What is National Airborne Day?

Originating from the home of bravery, the United States, National Airborne practices are observed globally on August 16th. This day was created to celebrate the awesomeness of the folks who've mastered the art of what we'd like to call 'vertical relocation methods'. Yes😄, these are just fancy words for freefall parachuting from aircraft!

The History Behind National Airborne Day?

National Airborne Day was first recognized by none other than the then US President George W. Bush on August 14, 2002. The idea was to honour the first-ever United States Army's parachute jump on August 16, 1940, during World War II. Since then, it's been like a skydiving birthday party for our airborne brethren!

Popularity Peak

According to our top-notch, perhaps slightly obsessive, analytics here at WhatNationalDayIsIt.com, we noticed that there was a colossal soaring spike of 5939 mentions of National Airborne Day online, hitting cloud nine on August 16, 2018. Seems like everybody wanted to be part of the epic airborne jamboree that year!

Gearing Up

So, how can you celebrate National Airborne Day? Embrace your inner daredevil! Throw on some aviator shades, pull out your jumpsuit, and take a leap of faith. Or, in more terrestrial terms, a well-cushioned trampoline will also do the trick. However, always remember to respect and ideally stay out of real military airspace - the armed services have a funny sense of humour about that!

History behind the term 'Airborne'

1783

First Manned Balloon Flight

In the year of 1783, the term 'airborne' finds its roots in the first manned balloon flight. On June 4th, Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier successfully launched a hot air balloon with humans aboard. This historic event marks the beginning of human flight and the first recorded instance of individuals being airborne.

1903

Wright Brothers' First Powered Flight

Fast forward to 1903, and the term 'airborne' becomes further entrenched in aviation history with the Wright Brothers' first powered flight. On December 17th, Orville Wright piloted the Flyer for approximately 12 seconds, covering a distance of 120 feet. This monumental achievement forever changed the world of aviation and served as a pivotal moment for the term 'airborne'.

1939

Introduction of Paratroopers

The year 1939 witnessed the introduction of paratroopers, which had a significant impact on the term 'airborne'. During World War II, paratroopers gained prominence as specialized airborne soldiers who were trained to be dropped by parachute into combat zones. This development further popularized the use of 'airborne' to describe military personnel and operations involving aerial deployment.

1947

Chuck Yeager Breaks the Sound Barrier

A groundbreaking moment in aviation history occurred in 1947 when Chuck Yeager achieved supersonic flight in the Bell X-1 aircraft. By breaking the sound barrier, Yeager propelled the term 'airborne' to new heights of technical achievement and innovation. This milestone not only revolutionized the way we perceive air travel but also solidified the term 'airborne' as a symbol of speed and advancement.

1953

Formation of the United States Airborne Units

In 1953, the United States formed its first official airborne units within the military. These specialized units, such as the 82nd Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne Division, played crucial roles in various conflicts and operations worldwide. The formation of these units further popularized the term 'airborne' and established its association with elite soldiers trained for aerial insertion.

Did you know?

The highest recorded combat jump was by Cpl. David Kenyon Webster during WWII - who parachuted from a staggering 22,800 feet! Now that's one way of getting a bird's eye view.