SHREVEPORT, La. -- For aviation enthusiasts, National Aviation Day is a chance to celebrate the industry that connects people around the world and the people who make flying their passion.
The annual observance, designated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939, highlights the history and development of aviation.
At Shreveport Downtown Airport, pilots and aviation enthusiasts say flying is about more than simply getting from one destination to another.
Linsey Hurd, an experienced aviator, said he knew from a young age that he wanted to pursue aviation.
“I knew I was going to be in aviation somehow,” Hurd said. “I worked on being a pilot when I was young and just worked on it. And here I am.”
Hurd said the excitement of flying never goes away.
“Once you get the bug to bite, that's it. You got to do it,” he said.
His fellow pilot, Beau Cummins, said one of the things he enjoys most about aviation is that every flight can offer a different experience.
Pilots enjoy this view from the "office window".
“There's always change,” Cummins said. “There's nothing you can do the same trip every day for two years. It's not the same trip.”
Many pilots say the opportunity to visit new places is one of the biggest draws.
“When you land somewhere, you're at a different place,” one pilot said. “There's no way to describe it to people that can't see.”
Linsey Hurd shares his long-time flight experience.
For those interested in becoming pilots, Tubreaux Aviation at Shreveport Downtown Airport offers discovery flights and lessons with certified instructors.
During a discovery flight, prospective pilots can get a hands-on introduction to flying and even take the controls while working with an instructor.
Aviation has changed significantly since the Wright brothers' first flight in 1903, with advances in pilot training, aircraft maintenance and technology.
Local aviators say those improvements have also made flying safer.
“Aviation is a safe way to travel and it's really a safe hobby as long as you do it correctly,” Tubreaux owner Kevin Coleman said.
Coleman's company is the downtown airport's Fixed-base Operator. Coleman himself also is a aerobatic stunt pilot for Red Bull.
People who want to celebrate National Aviation Day without boarding a plane can still enjoy the hobby. Watching aircraft take off and land from areas near airports is a free way to experience aviation, while airport cafes and restaurants can provide another opportunity to connect with fellow aviation enthusiasts.
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