American Aviation Weekend Brings Three Days of Flight and Innovation to Brevard
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will celebrate American aviation July 31 through August 2 with pilot meet-and-greets, hands-on activities and special IMAX screenings.
The Space Coast is known for rockets, but the history behind them begins with people who learned to fly, test aircraft and push aviation forward.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will celebrate that larger story during American Aviation Weekend, running Friday, July 31, through Sunday, August 2. The three-day program is included with regular admission and brings together military pilots, astronaut pilots, family activities and special screenings of The Blue Angels.
A different guest lineup each day
The scheduled pilot meet-and-greets change throughout the weekend:
- Friday, July 31: Major Trent "Beef" Kingery, Ph.D., and Matthew "Mutt" Manifold
- Saturday, August 1: Matthew Manifold and former NASA astronaut Winston Scott
- Sunday, August 2: Matthew Manifold and former NASA astronaut Fred Gregory
Manifold spent more than 25 years in the U.S. Air Force, including work as an F-16 pilot and test pilot. Kingery is a retired Marine Corps aviator and former NASA aviation-safety leader.
Scott flew aboard two space shuttle missions and later worked in aviation education at Florida Tech. Gregory served as a test pilot and became the first Black astronaut to command a space shuttle mission.
Because the lineup differs each day, families hoping to meet a particular guest should plan around the official schedule and check for updates before leaving home.
Retired Air Force pilot Matthew "Mutt" Manifold is scheduled to appear all three days. Photo courtesy of Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
What families can do between appearances
The Atlantis Aviation Center, located on the lower level of the Space Shuttle Atlantis building, will host activities, photo opportunities and a "future pilot" selfie station.
The IMAX theater will also screen The Blue Angels at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. each day through August 2. That gives visitors a way to pair the in-person pilot appearances with a large-format look at one of the country's most recognizable flight demonstration teams.
The aviation activities do not require a separate event ticket, but regular admission to the Visitor Complex is required.
Brevard's aviation history did not start with rockets
Aviation has shaped Brevard County for generations.
Patrick Space Force Base has long connected the beachside to military flight operations. In Titusville, Space Coast Regional Airport and the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum preserve another layer of that history through working aviation, restoration projects and vintage aircraft.
The space program grew from that same culture of testing, engineering and flight. Astronauts trained in high-performance aircraft. Shuttle crews relied on pilots, weather teams and aviation-safety specialists. Many of the technicians and engineers who support launches today began their careers around airplanes rather than rockets.
American Aviation Weekend puts those threads together in one place.
Planning a visit
American Aviation Weekend runs July 31 through August 2 at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, which is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The event is included with admission. Current ticket prices, directions and accessibility information are available through the Visitor Complex's plan-your-visit page.
Schedules can change, especially for guest appearances, so check the official event page before choosing a day.
Sources and useful links
Stephen Garcia
Stephen covers Brevard's wildlife, parks, science, launches, and aerospace workforce. He is drawn to the people doing technical or conservation work behind the scenes — and to explaining why that work matters close to home.
