A World War 2 era bomber facing head-on parked on the tarmac at the A&E Expo

A child flies a small blue drone inside a safety net at the A&E Expo

A pilot in period correct World War 2 pilot uniformposes in front of a Douglas C-53 Skytrooper

A child flies a small red drone inside a safety net at the A&E Expo

A family walks towards the camera as they leave the area for viewing the Goodyear Blimp.

Aeronautics & Engineering Expo

Saturday, September 26, 2026 | 9 A.M.-4 P.M.

This family friendly event has been a fixture in the Stow/Kent community for more than two decades and we are thrilled to bring this event back and showcase our Airport and FedEx Aeronautics Academic Center to the entire community. The Expo provides a unique opportunity to explore the Kent State Airport and offers one-of-a-kind activities for both the young - and young at heart.

Pre-sale tickets will be available for purchase on August 21, 2026.

Activities & Displays

	Airport Building Tours Tours of the FedEx Aeronautics Academic Center will start at the top of each hour, with the first tour at 9 A.M., and the last tour at 3 P.M. To sign up for a building tour, please visit the reception desk.
	Airplane Rides Airplane rides will take place from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. To sign up for a ride, please visit the airplane ride tent at the bottom of the ramp. Rides are first come, first served. Tickets cannot be purchased in advance. Prices: $80 per person \| $110 party of 2 \| $135 party of 3 \| FREE 5 & under (must be accompanied by an adult)
	Simulator Rides Simulator rides will take place from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. To sign up for a simulator ride, please visit the reception desk in the FedEx Aeronautics Academic Center. Price: $20/15 min.
Drone Activities
The A&E Expo is packed with exciting drone activities for all ages!
	Mobile Command and Control Center (MCCC): Step inside this state-of-the-art mobile facility designed for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. Learn how advanced technologies like cellular command and control, intelligent flight logic, and collision-avoidance systems keep unmanned aerial vehicles flying safely beyond the pilot’s line of sight.
	Drone Tent: Head into the hangar and try your hand at flying a drone yourself! Our interactive drone station lets you pilot smaller drones in a safe, indoor environment.
	Drone Demonstrations: Watch our Alta X, Event 38 E455 and Sentaro V drones take flight during live demo sessions. Each 15-minute flight showcases the skill, precision, and technology behind professional UAV operations.
Engineering Displays
	Robot Dog: Meet Yimo, our robot dog from the Cognitive Robotics and AI Lab! Designed to push the boundaries of human-robot interaction, Yimo showcases advanced AI and cognitive modeling that help robots understand their environment, work alongside humans, and perform complex tasks. At the Expo, watch Yimo in action as he performs tricks and demonstrations—showing off the future of robotics with a playful twist!
	Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV): Check out the future of clean transportation with our Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV)! Designed in our Sustainable Energy Lab, ZEV is the first golf cart powered by three sources—fuel cell, solar panel, and batteries. Complete with a built-in audio system for streaming music, this innovative project showcases how our students are driving forward breakthroughs in sustainable energy and fuel cell technology.
	3D Printing Station: We’re bringing a small snapshot of our campus Makerspace Lab to the Expo! Watch a 3D printer in action and see how ideas take shape using the same innovative technology found in our lab. Attendees can take home a custom Aeronautics & Engineering Expo keychain, crafted right here in our Makerspace.
	FANUC Robots: Step up and meet one of our FANUC robots! At the Expo, our industrial robots—just like the ones in our state-of-the-art Industrial Robotics Lab—will be handing out College of Aeronautics and Engineering pens to attendees. Now’s your chance to interact with the technology shaping the future of automation!
	Virtual Reality: Step into another world with Kent State’s Extended Reality (XR) Research Lab! At the Expo, attendees can put on a VR headset and experience immersive simulations firsthand. On campus, the XR Lab features virtual reality stations, motion platforms for flight simulation, and augmented and mixed reality technologies that bring learning and research to life. Don’t miss your chance to explore the future of extended reality!

Student Organizations

	KSU American Association of Airport Executives (KSU-AAAE): Stop by the KSU-AAAE table for a hands-on kids’ activity! Young aviators can build and decorate their own cut-out airplanes—provided by the national American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE)—and take home a fun aviation keepsake.
	KSU American Foundry Society: Experience “Foundry in a Box” with AFS! Watch live metal casting demonstrations and choose from a variety of pre-made designs to take home as a keepsake.
	KSU Combat Robotics Team: Check out the world of combat robotics! Watch exciting fight footage and explore real robot parts up close while learning how these robots are built for battle.
	KSU Design, Build, Fly: Take the pilot’s seat with Kent State’s Design, Build, Fly Club! At their Expo table, you can try out the controls of one of their RC aircraft and see how different control surfaces affect flight—no engines needed. Club members will guide you through each surface’s role, giving you a hands-on look at the science of flying.
	KSU High-Power Rocket Team: Reach for the skies with Kent State’s High-Powered Rocket Team! At their Expo table, you can see the 2025 Andromeda rocket up close and get hands-on by decorating your own miniature rocket kit (no motors) with crayons and markers. A fun way for future engineers and rocket enthusiasts alike to explore the excitement of rocketry!
	KSU Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP): Join OBAP in building and test-flying your very own paper airplane! Explore the basics of aerodynamics in a hands-on activity and see whose creation can glide the farthest.
	Society of Manufacturing Engineers: Discover the world of modern manufacturing with SME! Explore interactive activities like 3D printing demonstrations, gear and pulley models, or even designing your own part to see engineering in action.
	Society of Women Engineers (SWE): Stop by SWE’s table to learn about upcoming events, resources, and their featured guest speaker for the semester. Plus, try your hand at making a DIY rubber band helicopter while discovering the basics of energy conservation!
	Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity: Put your skills to the test with a hands-on engineering challenge! Families can work together to build mini paper bridges or towers while discovering the importance of teamwork and problem-solving.
	Women in Aviation: Discover the magic of low pressure with Women in Aviation! At their Expo table, participants can try a fun hands-on experiment—blow into a straw placed perpendicular to a water bottle and watch as the change in air pressure pulls the water out. It’s a simple but powerful demonstration of the science behind flight!

External Exhibitors

Maps Air Museum

The MAPS Air Museum (Military Aviation Preservation Society) is an internationally known museum of aviation and serves as a center of aviation history for Northeast Ohio. The museum features exciting educational displays of its collection of acquired artifacts, interactive exhibits and historical archives in its own library.

Take your family’s love of aviation to new heights! Visit our table to pick up Family Discount Tickets you can use later to explore the full museum – $10 for adults ($5 off) and $6 for kids ages 6–12 ($2 off)!

Displays will include:

A 1/4-scale model of a J-57 engine with a clear housing and viewable internal components.

¼ scale J-57 engine

F-86D Sabre Cockpit

Douglas A-4 Skyhawk Cockpit

Two students control two battle robots against each other in a low arena

FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) Robotics

Step onto the field with the FIRST® Tech Challenge display! Students design, build, and code robots using a reusable platform powered by Android technology and Java-based programming. At the Expo, you can watch live demos and even take the controls to try driving a competition robot yourself—experience the excitement of engineering in action!

Props-4-Paws

Jim Sebastian, a Kent State adjunct professor/check instructor and Southwest Airlines Captain, and David Poluga, Kent State airport manager, have turned their passion for aviation into a mission of compassion. In 2012, they founded Props-4-Paws, a charitable organization dedicated to supporting local animal shelters. At this event, Props-4-Paws sets up a donation booth in the hangar, accepting pet food, supplies, and monetary contributions. They also sell branded merchandise, with all proceeds going directly to shelter animals.

Portage County Amateur Radio Service

Discover the world of amateur radio with the Portage County Amateur Radio Service (PCARS)! This passionate group of radio hobbyists is all about having fun while exploring the airwaves. At their Expo table, you can see ham radio equipment in action, check out inexpensive software-defined radios that let anyone pick up hundreds of signals without a license, and even try your hand at locating hidden transmitters around the area. Whether you're new to radio or a seasoned pro, PCARS has something exciting to share!

U.S. Marine Corps

A blue and red outline of the state of Ohio overlaid with the words "Portage County" and placed above the words "Veteran Services"

Portage County Veterans Association

Pricing

Walk-Up Admission
$5/person | Max $20/family

Parking On-Site (Parking is in the grass only)
$20/car (includes admission for everyone in the vehicle)
Parking can be purchased in advance beginning August 21st or at the event. If purchasing parking at the event, cash is preferred.