thumb|[[Mexican Air Force Beechcraft T-34A Mentor (201) during TICO Airshow 2010]]

Space Coast Regional Airport is in Titusville, Florida, United States, on Columbia Boulevard (State Road 405) and Washington Avenue (U.S. 1) in Brevard County. Formerly known, and still colloquially referred to, as Ti-Co (Titusville-Cocoa) Airport, it is the nearest commercial airport to the Kennedy Space Center.

History

In 1943 the U.S. Government built the airport on land jointly owned by both cities, Titusville and Cocoa. The airfield had two x runways with a taxiway system. The U.S. Government developed the airport to serve as an outlying field (OLF) to Naval Air Station Sanford during World War II. The airport was built by the Civil Aeronautics Administration under the "Development of Landing Areas for National Defense" Program to help relieve other area military bases of training exercises during World War II. The government retained control of the airport for the duration of the war.

After the war the U.S. Navy transferred the airport and associated improvements to the War Assets Administration, which deeded the airport back to the Cities of Titusville and Cocoa by a Surrender of Lease and Quit Claim Deed dated April 18, 1947.

The taxiways and runways of the Titusville-Cocoa Airport hosted a NASCAR Grand National (now Cup Series) event, on December 30, 1956, for the 1957 NASCAR season. Fireball Roberts won in a Peter DePaolo Ford.

Facilities

Space Coast Regional Airport covers and has two runways:

  • Runway 18/36 , surface: asphalt
  • Runway 9/27 , surface: asphalt

Warbird Museum

The Valiant Air Command is a frequently flyable collection of planes used in World Wars I and II. It is based here, along with a permanent collection of additional aircraft from the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War and the first Gulf War/Operation Desert Storm at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum. The museum provides an exhibit of air history, offering a static display of vintage Warbird aircraft, including a Douglas C-47A. Veteran tour guides recount war stories.

Events

<!---Might be better named. If so, might be merged with Warbird Museum--->

The Tico Air Show (March) is an annual event since 1977 and features modern military and vintage airplane fly-bys and demonstrations, strafing runs, dog fights, vintage warbird static displays, and military exhibits. In 2008, about 30,000 visitors attended.

Industry

Bristow Helicopters' Bristow Academy, a helicopter flying school, employs 160 and training 350 people a year in Schweizer 300CBIs, Robinson R22s, Robinson R44s, and Bell 206Bs. They have 59 helicopters. It is the world's largest civilian helicopter school.

The Zero Gravity Corporation offers weightless flights in its modified Boeing 727 and Airbus A300 cargo planes.

AeroDyne Detail, LLC provides mobile detailing services on the field.

See also

  • List of airports in Florida

Footnotes

References

  • Titusville-Cocoa Airport Authority (official site)