The Intergalactic Aerospace Expo (IAE) is almost here, and to help everyone get the most from the annual ship show, we’ve answered some common questions surrounding the event. Read on for everything you need to know about the show, including where to go and how to take part in the upcoming Free Fly event. What exactly is the IAE? The Intergalactic Aerospace Exposition, or IAE, is the universe’s premier space ship show and convention. It provides everyone with the opportunity to see some of Star Citizen's biggest, best, and most iconic ships up close, as different manufacturers take over the halls each day. Plus, almost everything on display is available to test-fly for free! When is the IAE taking place? Starting on November 19 through December 1, different ship manufacturers take over the expo for 48 hours. What time does the event start? IAE opens its gates on November 19th at 8am Pacific / 4pm UTC, starting with Anvil Aerospace. When does the Free Fly start? For new players, the Free Fly begins at the same as the start of IAE, which is 8am Pacific / 4pm UTC on November 19th. I neither have a Star Citizen Game Package nor a spacecraft. How can I travel to microTech and enjoy the Free Fly? No worries, we got you covered! The Intergalactic Aerospace Expo is the ultimate time to test Star Citizen and almost every ship we made for free - for everyone! We provide every account with a Consolidated Outland Nomad starter ship as a free loaner during the IAE 2951. Where does the IAE take place? Where do I have to go? This year, IAE returns to the Tobin Expo Center, New Babbage, microTech. How do I get to the Tobin Expo Center? First, you need to head to the planet microTech. If this is your first visit to the Stanton System, you can choose to spawn at the New Babbage Aspire Grand directly. If you're already a citizen of the 'verse, jump to microTech, spline jump to New Babbage, then land at the Interstellar Spaceport. From there, take the Metro transit system and get off at the Tobin Expo Center. As below, no matter where you board the train, you'll eventually arrive at the correct stop. How do I rent a ship? The IAE displays ships from different manufacturers throughout the event. If you see something you'd like to test-fly, walk up to it and press and hold the F key to open the inner thought menu. The ship will become highlighted, then left-click on the word RENT. Your mobiGlass will open. Then, confirm the rental by clicking RENT in the lower-right corner. You can then head to the Space Port or any other ASOP terminal throughout the 'verse. The rented ship will be available for 48 hours. How long can ships be rented? You can rent ships as long as they are on display at the IAE. All manufacturers exhibit their ships for 48 hours. Check the IAE 2951 Schedule to see which ships can be viewed and rented on which days. Once you have rented a craft, it will be available for 48 hours. How many ships can be rented? You can rent every flyable or drivable vehicle exhibited at the IAE. Each ship or vehicle can be rented once. Which ships exactly will be free to rent during the different manufacturer days? Check the IAE 2951 Schedule to see which ships can be viewed and rented on which days. Do I need a copy of Star Citizen to enjoy the IAE? No. For the duration of the IAE, anyone can play Star Citizen for free. All you need to do is visit the Fly Now page and follow the instructions. Can I invite a friend? Of course! All they need to do is visit the Fly Now page, create an account, and jump into the game. Don't forget, using your referral code during account creation grants them an additional 5,000 UEC. And if they decide to stay after the Free fly, you'll earn a referral point. Additionally, referrals during IAE this year can take advantage of the Fall Referral Promotion, earning both you and the person you refer an Argo MPUV! Check out the comm-link for all the details. Who will get the Best in Show liveries? The final four ships in our recent Ship Showdown event will receive the Best in Show liveries. They are the: Argo MPUV Crusader Mercury Star Runner Crusader C2 Hercules Starlifter Origin 600i If you already have one of these ships, you'll receive the IAE-exclusive paint (and relevant wearable) at no cost, as well as an Argo-themed in-game backpack, with distribution starting on Best In Show Day on November 28th. To be eligible to receive these items, the ships need to be in your hangar - having them in your Buyback List won't be granting you the Best in Show Liveries. Everyone pledging for a Best in Show 2951 ship during the IAE will receive the paint as well, distributed at the end of IAE. Additionally, all variants of the 600i and Argo MPUV will also receive the paints and jackets, as these ships are only variants for the short term and are intended to be modular in the future. As the C2 is a true variant of the Hercules, this is the only Hercules model that will receive the paint and jacket. The Best in Show ships will also be available to fly for free between November 28 and December 1. Will there be Warbond CCUs available? Yes. Check back each day throughout the expo to see what's available. Will there be quantity stock-limited ships? Yes! Each stock-limited ship is limited to 1 per account and will be available in three waves to cover as many global time zones as possible. Please note, there will be no upgrades available to stock-limited ships. Wave 1: 8am Pacific Time Zone / 4pm UTC Wave 2: 4pm Pacific Time Zone / 12am UTC Wave 3: 12am Pacific Time Zone / 8am UTC IAE Day 2 - November 20th: Constellation Phoenix IAE Day 3 - November 21st: Aegis Idris-P, Aegis Javelin IAE Day 6 - November 24th: Origin 890 Jump IAE Day 7 - November 25th: Consolidated Outland Pioneer IAE Day 8 - November 26th: Drake Kraken, Drake Kraken Privateer IAE Day 9 - November 27th: MISC Hull E Note: Idris aftermarket kits and Kraken Privateer conversion kits are no longer stock limited. Are there any perks for visiting the show floor? Yes! We're going to be giving out manufacturer-themed Spectrum badges to celebrate the event. Simply log in to the game during the IAE to earn the badge of the exhibiting manufacturer. Be sure to log in throughout the event if you want a complete set! We'll hand out the badges to your accounts after the IAE has ended. Have additional questions? Ask them here and we'll do our best to answer them!