Aviator's Day in Brazil

Brazilian Aviator's Day is celebrated on October 23. It commemorates the first official flight of Alberto Santos-Dumont, a Brazilian aviation pioneer. In Brazil, Santos-Dumont is regarded as the “father of flight” and considered a national hero, but for many he was simply “the Flying Poet..

At a very young age, he became enthusiastic about balloons and dirigibles. He made numerous flights on lighter-than-air aircraft, some of which he constructed himself. In the early 20th century, his primary interest turned to heavier-than-air aircraft. The Brazilian aviation pioneer preceded the Wright brothers’ ingenuity with his advances in both lighter-than-air and heavier-than-air craft, and arguably, in demonstrating the first practical airplane.

Santos-Dumont's first successful flight of a heavier-than-air aircraft took place on October 23, 1906. It was the first flight of a powered heavier-than-air machine in Europe to be verified by the Aero-Club de France. Although Santos-Dumont spent most of his life in France, Brazilians consider him to be a national hero. The anniversary of his historical flight was designated as Aviator's Day.