National Ride The Wind Day: 4 Exciting Activities You Can Enjoy On The Occasion

National Ride The Wind Day, which is celebrated on Aug. 23 every year, gives people a reason to enjoy the warm weather and feel the wind on their faces.

The occasion marks the anniversary of the first human-powered flight to win the Kremer prize on Aug. 23, 1977. On that day, the Gossamer Condor, which was built by Dr. Paul B. MacCready and piloted by hang-glider Bryan Allen, flew the "first figure-eight course specified by the Royal Aeronautical Society" at Shafter, California, traveling a distance of 2,172 meters while moving at just 11 mph.

MacCready also won a second Kremer prize on June 12, 1979, when Allen flew the Gossamer Albatross from England to France.

According to the Royal Aeronautical Society, the human-powered flight might still be a dream had it not been for the support of Henry Kremer who, by offering prizes for competitions, "made possible the building of extraordinary aircraft."

"Over the years he has donated over £275,000 of his own money to encourage greater achievement in human-powered flight," the organization said.

With the warmer summer weather still in full swing, people can certainly find many ways to celebrate National Ride the Wind Day. Here are some ideas you might want to try. (Courtesy: National Day Calendar, Time and Date and Days of the Year)

1- Ride the wind- Those who have the right skills and resources may take this day as an opportunity to test a human-powered aircraft or perhaps fly in one as a passenger. People who've always been curious about it may also look into taking flying lessons.

2- Feel the wind on your face- Individuals who are not much into flying or maybe a little scared of heights can still celebrate National Ride the Wind Day by flying kites or perhaps making paper airplanes with family and friends. With these activities, they can still enjoy the feeling of the wind on their faces while staying on the ground. Biking or motorcycling are also other possible activities they can try. As for those who are into water sports, they may also enjoy the wind while on a jet ski or a sailboat.

3- Learn the history and science of it- History buffs may also celebrate the occasion by looking into the history of human-powered flight, while those who are more interested in the engineering of such vehicles may look deeper into the science of how they work.

4- Visit the Gossamer Condor- Yes, people can actually see this historic aircraft as the Smithsonian Institute has it on display at an exhibit at the National Air and Space Museum. Those in the area may catch a glimpse of it and many other exhibitions by paying the museum a visit.