NASA is hosting its inaugural Max Power aerospace expo and air show this weekend, running Saturday, Nov. 7, and Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, on and around the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The three-part event combines a major air show, interactive visitor exhibits, and the UP.Summit technology expo at NASA’s former shuttle landing strip.
The name Max Power should sound familiar to fans of The Simpsons,
as it is the alias Homer adopts in the 13th episode of the show’s 10th season after pulling it off a hair dryer, according to Space. Beyond the pop-culture nod, NASA and external collaborators are utilizing the weekend to display new autonomous vehicles, aircraft, and technologies shaping the future of flight and space exploration.
What are the major flight demonstrations and who is flying?
The air show features the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds as headliners, with Maj. Samuel RaZZ
Larson arriving early in his F-16 at Patrick Space Force Base as the vanguard pilot, the, Orlando Sentinel reported. As part of his duties, Larson is scheduled to fly Miami native and Artemis III crew member Frank Rubio on a ride-along training flight through standard show maneuvers.
In addition to the Thunderbirds, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman is scheduled to pilot aircraft during the weekend. Isaacman plans to fly in an F-5 jet at 11:58 a.m. and in a MiG-29 at 1:31 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday as part of the NASA Freedom 250 Aerial Team, which he created and funded. The weekend’s flying lineup also features NASA’s quiet supersonic X-59 research plane, the F-18 Super Hornet, C-17 Globemaster III, F-104 Starfighter, NASA F-15D Eagle, NASA 777, Coast Guard HH-65 and C-27 Spartan, Rooster Aerobatics, and the Army Golden Knights Jump Team.
How does the event compare to international air shows?
Kennedy Space Center Director Brian Hughes stated during a National Space Club Florida Committee luncheon that officials hope the inaugural gathering will eventually rival prominent international events like the Farnborough International Airshow in the United Kingdom and Wisconsin’s EAA AirVenture Oshkosh fly-in convention. Hughes noted that aerospace companies have historically traveled to foreign soil for major rollout announcements, asking why KSC should not hold that same status.
So I’m not going to try to say that we’re going to rival Oshkosh or Farnborough in the aviation and aerospace demonstration world — yet. But that’s the vision,
Hughes said, adding, if we pull it off, I think it could be really the start of something that gets a lot bigger.
Running concurrently at the former shuttle landing strip, the UP.Summit tech expo is drawing a VIP gathering and investors representing more than $1 trillion worth of investable capital, according to event organizers cited by USA Today. Titusville Mayor Andrew Connors told the Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization that local tourism officials anticipate drawing over 50,000 visitors easily, comparing the expected turnout to Cocoa Beach’s oceanfront air shows.
What are the ticketing options and traffic expectations for visitors?
General admission tickets for the main air show are sold out for both Saturday and Sunday, though higher-end box seats for groups of four or six remain available, alongside individual preferred seating options priced in the $100 range, as detailed by the Orlando Sentinel. Visitors can also purchase admission to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, located about 5 miles south of the landing facility, which features discounted tickets taking $17.76 off regular prices in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. The KSC Visitor Complex will feature interactive exhibits and activities, alongside events and displays for the Max Power showcase.
For those seeking closer proximity to the flight line without air show tickets, the UP.Summit exhibition area offers displays of flying cars, drones, rockets, and spacecraft for $53.50, which includes parking and transportation from the visitor center.
Local authorities are preparing for significant congestion. The Titusville Police Department announced plans to actively monitor traffic and deploy personnel along major roadways leading to and from Kennedy Space Center to assist motorists.