20th August World Helicopter Day

 

It is World Helicopter Day on the third Sunday of August.

There's not a lot of picture books about helicopters, but there are students at school who are super keen to borrow books about helicopters.

The nonfiction information books are more popular, but there are stories too. 

This story, Yellow Copter  is my 'nightmare' book. It is about a teacher who is stuck at the top of a ferris wheel and she is rescued by a helicopter. When I was 12, a ferris wheel I was on with some young cousins stopped, with us at the very top. Next door in full sight was an open air  aquarium with sharks swimming round and round. We were there for two and a half hours, the longest day of my life!

Not all helicopter books are like this though and this is probably very exciting for readers who haven't had my experience. See all of these others.

7th November Lawrence Hargrave Memorial Kite Day

The Lawrence Hargrave Memorial Kite Day is a NSW Department of Education and Training event that brings 1000 Illawarra primary school students together at Stanwell Park to celebrate the achievements of Australian aviation pioneer Lawrence Hargrave.  On the 12th of November , 1894, Lawrence Hargrave became the first man in the world to achieve vertical lift off while tethered to four box-kites on Stanwell Park beach. Hargrave's achievement was one of the most significant milestones in the development of manned flight.

Lawrence Hargrave, an aeronautical pioneer and inventor was born in England in 1850, but came to Australia in 1865 where he lived until he died in 1915. In 1893 he moved to Stanwell Park and began working on his second great invention, the box kite. He wanted to lift himself into the air. After a number of attempts on 12th November 1894 he lifted himself from the beach at Stanwell Park in a four kite construction attached to the ground by piano wire. This invention then inspired inventors and flight enthusiasts in Europe and America, in particular the Wright Brothers. Australia commemorates his achievements with his appearance on our $20 note.

While there aren't any children's books specifically about Lawrence Hargraves, there are many nonfiction books about flight, the history of flight, the Wright brothers and kites.