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American Aviation Weekend

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Jul 31 – Aug 2, 2026
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Save the Date!

American Aviation Weekend is a three-day celebration of flight, innovation, and the people who explore the skies. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex invites guests to explore the spirit of American aviation through special guests and unique activities.

Throughout the weekend, guests can look forward to:

  • Meet and greets with pilots and astronaut pilots (see schedule below)
  • Atlantis Aviation Center on the bottom floor of Space Shuttle Atlantis with fun activities, photo opportunities, and a future pilot selfie station
  • Screenings of The Blue Angels in IMAX Theater, showing: Monday, July 27 – Sunday, Aug 2 at 3:00 PM and 5:30 PM

 

Pilot Schedule:

Friday, July 31: Major Trent “Beef” Kingery, Ph.D., and Matthew “Mutt” Manifold

Saturday, August 1: Matthew “Mutt” Manifold and astronaut Winston Scott

Sunday, August 2: Matthew “Mutt” Manifold and astronaut Fred Gregory

 

 

Matthew "Mutt" Manifold

  • U.S. Air Force; Retired

Mutt’s passion for aviation came about by birth and being raised in Dayton, Ohio, the birthplace of aviation. He spent his weekends at the United States Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force base and knew being a pilot was in his future.   

He received his Private Pilot License while in high school in Dayton, Ohio. He played football, studied aeronautical engineering, and was part of the Air Force ROTC at The Ohio State University.  

He had a 25+ year Air Force career flying F-16s with multiple combat tours, test pilot roles, command tours, and retired as a Brigadier General.  

Following his Air Force career, he was an F-16 Test Pilot for Lockheed Martin and the Director of Flight Operations at Cirrus Aircraft and is currently the Chief Pilot for Lone Mountain Aircraft. 

Mutt has over 12, 000 hours of flying experience in all types of military aircraft plus general aviation experience in multiple aircraft. 

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Trent Kingery

  • U.S. Marines; Retired

  • NASA; Retired

Dr. Trent Kingery is an aerospace professional, aviator, and engineer with more than 30 years of leadership experience spanning military, government, and commercial aviation. He currently serves as a Boeing 737 First Officer with United Airlines and previously served as Chief of Aviation Safety at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, where he directed aviation safety programs and investigations supporting NASA flight operations. 
 
A retired United States Marine Corps officer, Dr. Kingery completed 24 years of service as an F/A-18 pilot, lead flight instructor, avionics technician, and acquisition specialist. During multiple deployments in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, he flew 175 combat missions, accumulated 695 combat flight hours, earned nine Strike/Flight Air Medals, and completed 165 carrier landings. 
 
Following his military career, Dr. Kingery served as a Supervisory Research Pilot and Chief of Aviation Safety at NASA, instructing astronauts in the T-38N and flying airborne science missions worldwide. He has logged more than 4,800 flight hours in over 25 aircraft. 
 
Dr. Kingery holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Systems Engineering, a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, and a B.S. in Electronic Systems Technologies. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation and is the recipient of the 2022 Neil Armstrong™ Award of Excellence and NASA’s prestigious “Yes, If” Safety Award. 

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