Kennedy Space Center, Fla. (October 11, 2010) – Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will honor the men and women of the United States Air Force with Air Force Day on Thursday, October 28, 2010, in conjunction with Air Force Week. The public is invited to enjoy special exhibits and displays, as well as musical performances and exciting live demonstrations.
The celebration kicks-off at 10:00 a.m. with a HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter landing in the Rocket Garden, followed by a parachute jump by the U.S. Air Force Academy Wings of Blue demonstration team and a heart-pounding F-15E Strike Eagle flyover. Guests will also have the opportunity to attend a special Lunch With an Astronaut, featuring astronaut John Blaha (USAF, Ret.).
Other activities for guests to enjoy include performances by the U.S. Air Force cover band, Max Impact, a U.S. Air Force drill team demonstration, and an Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) display, which includes a bomb suit and bomb-checking robot.
Special exhibits and displays include the Air Force sponsored NASCAR race car, an A-10 Monster Truck display and a full-scale F-16 mock-up in Thunderbird colors. A U.S. Air Force art gallery will be on display in the IMAX building.
Tops in Blue, the premiere entertainment showcase of the U.S. Air Force, will perform a free concert for the community in the Rocket Garden at 8:00 p.m. Tops in Blue is an all-active duty U.S. Air Force special unit made up of talented amateur performers. This elite group performs for military personnel and their families throughout the world.
Schedule of Events – October 28, 2010
10:00 a.m. – HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter landing in the Rocket Garden
11:15 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. – U.S. Air Force Drill Team performance in the Rocket Garden
Noon – U.S. Air Force Academy Wings of Blue parachute demonstration in the Rocket Garden
12:30 p.m. – Lunch With an Astronaut featuring astronaut John Blaha (USAF, Ret.)
1:00 p.m. – U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle flyover
2:00, 4:30 & 6:30 p.m. – Max Impact cover band performance, featuring four of the Air Force's most dynamic vocalists supported by a five-piece rhythm section
3:30 p.m. – Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD)demonstration, including a bomb suit and bomb-checking robot
8:00 p.m. – Tops in Blue concert in the Rocket Garden, an all-active duty U.S. Air Force special unit made up of amateur performers
In honor of Air Force Day, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is offering one complimentary admission ticket for active duty and retired service members, including Reservists and National Guardsmen. Tickets must be picked up between October 25 and November 15, and are valid through December 18, 2010, except for space shuttle launch days. To pick up the complimentary ticket, a valid ID must be presented at select Information, Ticket and Travel (ITT) offices at Patrick and MacDill Air Force Base, Orlando, Cape Canaveral and Jacksonville Naval Offices and Shades of Green Resort. Tickets may also be obtained at the Visitor Complex front gate.
Air Force Day activities are included with admission to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. The Lunch With an Astronaut program is $22.99 plus tax for adults and $15.99 plus tax for children, ages 3-11, in addition to admission and reservations are suggested. Performance times are subject to change.
About Air Force Week
The Air Force Week program offers men and women of the United States Air Force the unique opportunity to share their experiences with members of the local community. Each Air Force Week includes community visits and talks by Air Force officials, flight demonstration team performances and displays providing a detailed look at the women and men of the United States Air Force serving on the front lines. Locations of previous Air Force Weeks include Los Angeles, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, Omaha, Hampton Roads, Sacramento, and Philadelphia.
Cocoa Beach, Florida is one of only two cities selected by the U.S. Air Force to host Air Force Week in 2010 and is scheduled for October 27-31, 2010. The week concludes with the two-day Cocoa Beach Air Show featuring the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.
About Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex opens at 9 a.m. Closing times vary by season. The Visitor Complex is open daily except December 25 and certain launch days. Admission includes the Shuttle Launch Experience, Kennedy Space Center Tour, 3D IMAX® space films, Astronaut Encounter, all exhibits, and the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame®, featuring historic spacecraft and the world's largest collection of personal astronaut memorabilia. Admission is $41 + tax for adults and $31 + tax for children ages 3-11. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Commander’s Club Annual Pass is $53 + tax for adults and $43 + tax for children ages 3-11. For more information, call 877-313-2610 or visit www.KennedySpaceCenter.com.
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