Next Space Coast Honor Flight Set for April, Will Be First of Five Missions Scheduled for 2026

Melbourne Airport Becomes New Launch Point for Space Coast Honor Flights

WATCH: In September, Space Coast Honor Flight marked a historic milestone with its first-ever trip departing directly from Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB) to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA — For the first time in its 15-year history, Space Coast Honor Flight missions took off directly from Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB) this fall, marking a major milestone for the nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring America’s veterans.

Space Coast Honor Flight honors America’s veterans by providing free trips to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice. Founded in 2010, Space Coast Honor Flight is a 100% volunteer nonprofit organization based on Florida’s Space Coast.

The Space Coast Honor Flight has carried more than 2,000 veterans to Washington since its inception in 2010, and the organization plans to continue expanding its outreach in 2026. Each trip is made possible through donations, volunteer guardians, and the unwavering support of the community.

Between September and November, three chartered flights carried 146 veterans from Florida’s Space Coast to Washington, D.C., where they visited memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice.

Looking ahead, five missions are scheduled for 2026 — the first full year of Honor Flights departing from Melbourne Orlando International Airport. The inaugural 2026 flight, hosted and sponsored by MLB, is set for April 11, 2026.

Each mission culminated in a jubilant “Welcome Home” celebration at MLB, as hundreds of supporters packed the terminal waving flags and chanting, “Welcome home!”

“It’s been a dream of ours to fly from our hometown airport,” said Rear Adm. James Hart, U.S. Navy (Ret.), president of Space Coast Honor Flight.

“After three years of planning with Melbourne Orlando International Airport, this partnership has become a reality — and the support from the community has been nothing short of incredible.”

The nonprofit’s fall missions took place Sept. 6, Oct. 11, and Nov. 8, made possible through sponsorships from Mederi Caretenders, Tom and Annette Sanders, The Employees Community Fund of The Boeing Company, and Northrop Grumman Corporation.

Mederi Caretenders sponsored food for both the sendoff and homecoming events, while Holiday Builders provided breakfast for veterans and their guardians before departure.

More than 1,000 community members attended the airport’s Red, White & You Pre-Flight Parties, enjoying live music, food trucks, and giveaways before the highlight of the evening — the Veterans Walk of Honor, when veterans paraded through the terminal to thunderous applause.

“Each Honor Flight from MLB is a reminder of the deep gratitude our community feels for those who have served,” said Greg Donovan, A.A.E., executive director of MLB.

“Hosting these missions at our hometown airport is both an honor and a privilege, and we’re thankful for everyone who makes them possible.”

During each one-day trip, veterans visited major memorials in Washington, D.C., including the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the United States Marine Corps War Memorial, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

For many participants, the experience was deeply emotional.

“Standing at the World War II Memorial, I thought of all the buddies who never made it home,” said 95-year-old Seymour “Sy” Weinlauf, an Army National Guard veteran. “It’s something I’ll never forget.”

Upon their return, veterans were greeted by airport ambassadors, local students, families, and members of the Florida Tech Men’s Lacrosse team, who formed a cheering line of red, white, and blue.

Community organizations such as the Space Coast Nurse Honor Guard, MLB Comfort Canines, The Pinup Pixies, and Space Coast Therapy Dogs also joined the festivities, creating a memorable homecoming that touched everyone in attendance.

The mission’s success was the result of a collaborative effort between Space Coast Honor Flight, Melbourne Orlando International Airport, and numerous partners, including Menzies Aviation, Sheltair, Metz Culinary Management, Hyatt Place Melbourne Airport, Hertz, Avis Budget Group, Republic Parking, and Chairs for Affairs.

Founded in 2010, Space Coast Honor Flight is a nonprofit organization that provides free, all-expenses-paid trips to Washington, D.C., for veterans to visit the memorials built in their honor. The group has flown thousands of veterans from Florida’s Space Coast since its inception.

“When these veterans step off the plane and see the crowd waiting for them, you can feel the emotion in the air,” Hart said. “It’s not just a flight — it’s a homecoming, decades in the making.”

For the Melbourne-Orlando International Airport and the residents of Brevard County, each welcome home celebration is more than an event — it’s a living expression of gratitude and unity.

As the veterans return from their journey of remembrance, the crowd’s cheers will echo through the terminal — a resounding reminder that freedom, service, and sacrifice never fade from memory.

For more information, visit Spacecoasthonorflight.org.

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