IAE 2955: Everything You Need to Know About Star Citizen's Biggest Ship Show

The Intergalactic Aerospace Expo (IAE) 2955 has arrived. From November 20 through December 3, 2025, Star Citizen's premier spaceship convention opens its doors at the stunning Vision Center in Orison, Crusader. Whether you're a veteran pilot or a curious newcomer taking advantage of the Free Fly event, this is your chance to test-fly nearly 200 ships and ground vehicles—completely free.

This comprehensive guide covers everything: event dates, how to get there, the full manufacturer schedule, Best in Show winners, limited stock-limited ships, Warbond deals, Twitch Drops, and tips to maximize your IAE experience.

What is the IAE?

The Intergalactic Aerospace Exposition is the universe's premier spaceship convention. It's where manufacturers showcase their finest vessels, and pilots of all experience levels can take the helm of legendary ships—from nimble fighters to massive capital ships—at no cost. With manufacturer days rotating throughout the event, you'll discover new ships daily and experience the cutting edge of Star Citizen's fleet.

Event Dates & Start Time

Event Duration: November 20 – December 3, 2025
Opening Time: November 20 at 16:00 UTC
Free Fly: Runs simultaneously with IAE (Nov 20 – Dec 3)

The Free Fly event means anyone can play Star Citizen during IAE—no game package required. Simply create an account, download the game, and jump in with the Crusader Intrepid starter ship provided to all accounts for the duration of the event.

Location: Vision Center, Orison, Crusader

For the first time ever, the IAE is being held at the Vision Center in Orison, one of the most breathtaking floating cities in the Stanton system. Here's how to get there:

First-time visitors: Spawn at Green Circle hab by selecting it as your primary residence
Existing citizens: Quantum travel to Crusader → Spline jump to Orison → Land at August Dunlow Spaceport
Follow the signs: Exit your hangar and look for IAE signage leading to the Vision Center

How Ship Rentals Work

Each manufacturer day unlocks a curated selection of ships available for free test flights:

Rental Duration: 48 hours per ship
Rental Limit: Each ship or vehicle can be rented once
How to Rent: Visit the Traveler Rentals terminals in the main IAE hall during that vehicle's Manufacturer Day
Where to Retrieve: Use any ASOP terminal at the spaceport or throughout the 'verse

Pro tip: Not all flyable ships are on display—check the rental terminals daily to discover hidden gems not shown on the expo floor.

Complete Manufacturer Schedule

Day 1: RSI (November 20-21)

Highlight: The brand-new RSI Perseus makes its in-game debut! This heavy gunship is designed to shred sub-capital class vessels with overwhelming firepower.

Featured Ships: Perseus, Apollo Medivac, Apollo Triage, Aurora lineup (CL, ES, LN, LX, MR), Constellation series (Andromeda, Aquila, Phoenix, Taurus), Lynx, Mantis, Meteor, Polaris, Scorpius, Scorpius Antares, Ursa, Ursa Medivac, Zeus Mk II CL, Zeus Mk II ES

Day 2: Origin Jumpworks (November 21-22)

Focus: Luxury exploration and racing. Perfect for touring Orison's clouds or blazing through Daymar's canyons.

Featured Ships: 85x, 100i, 125a, 135c, 300i, 315p, 325a, 350r, 400i, 600i Explorer, 600i Touring, 890 Jump, M50, X1, X1 Force, X1 Velocity

Day 3: Drake Interplanetary (November 22-23)

Focus: Rugged utility and combat. Test the new Drake Golem mining ship or the formidable Corsair.

Featured Ships: Buccaneer, Caterpillar, Corsair, Cutlass Black, Cutlass Blue, Cutlass Red, Cutlass Steel, Cutter, Cutter Rambler, Cutter Scout, Dragonfly Black, Golem, Herald, Mule, Vulture

Day 4: Aopoa, Banu, Esperia, Gatac (November 23-24)

Focus: Alien technology and exotic designs—Xi'an elegance, Tevarin prowess, Vanduul aggression.

Featured Ships: Khartu-al, Nox, San'tok.yāi (Aopoa) | Defender (Banu) | Blade, Glaive, Prowler, Prowler Utility, Stinger, Talon, Talon Shrike (Esperia) | Syulen (Gatac) | Shiv (Grey's Market)

Day 5: Kruger, Mirai, MISC (November 24-25)

Focus: Versatile workhorses and high-performance fighters. The Hull lineup and Freelancer variants shine here.

Featured Ships: Wolf, Merlin, Archimedes (Kruger) | Fury, Fury LX, Fury MX, Guardian, Guardian QI, Guardian MX, Pulse, Pulse LX, Razor, Razor EX, Razor LX (Mirai) | Fortune, Freelancer series, Hull A, Hull C, Prospector, Reliant lineup, Starfarer, Starfarer Gemini, Starlancer MAX, Starlancer TAC (MISC)

Day 6: Anvil Aerospace (November 25-26)

Focus: Military-grade precision and heavy combat. Try the new F7C Hornet Mk II or the formidable Asgard and Paladin.

Featured Ships: Arrow, Asgard, Ballista, C8R Pisces, C8X Pisces Expedition, Carrack, Centurion, F7C Hornet Mk II, F7C-M Super Hornet Mk II, F7C-R Hornet Tracker Mk II, F7C-S Hornet Ghost Mk II, F8C Lightning, Gladiator, Hawk, Hurricane, Paladin, Spartan, Terrapin, Terrapin Medic, Valkyrie

Day 7: Argo, Consolidated Outland, Greycat (November 26-27)

Focus: Industrial might and ground operations. Test the ATLS exosuit, the versatile Nomad, and rugged mining vehicles.

Featured Ships: ATLS, ATLS GEO, CSV-SM, MOLE, MPUV Cargo, MPUV Personnel, MPUV Tractor, RAFT, SRV (Argo) | HoverQuad, Mustang lineup, Nomad (CNOU) | MTC, PTV, ROC, ROC-DS, STV (Greycat)

Day 8: Crusader Industries, Tumbril (November 27-28)

Focus: Heavy transport and armored combat. The Hercules lineup and Nova tank dominate this day.

Featured Ships: A1 Spirit, A2 Hercules, Ares Ion, Ares Inferno, C1 Spirit, C2 Hercules, Intrepid, M2 Hercules, Mercury Star Runner (Crusader) | Cyclone variants, Nova, Storm, Storm AA (Tumbril)

Day 9: Aegis Dynamics (November 28-29)

Focus: Combat specialists and stealth platforms. The Retaliator, Sabre, and Vanguard series await.

Featured Ships: Avenger Stalker, Avenger Titan, Avenger Titan Renegade, Avenger Warlock, Eclipse, Gladius, Gladius Valiant, Hammerhead, Reclaimer, Redeemer, Retaliator, Sabre, Sabre Comet, Sabre Firebird, Sabre Peregrine, Vanguard Harbinger, Vanguard Hoplite, Vanguard Sentinel, Vanguard Warden

Day 10: Best in Show (November 29)

Celebrate the Ship Showdown 2955 winners!

The four semi-finalists receive exclusive Best in Show liveries and in-game posters:

Champion: RSI Polaris (also receives a collectible pennant)
Runner-ups: Anvil Asgard, RSI Zeus Mk II ES, Anvil Gladiator

Owners of these ships (specific variants, not others) will receive the BIS paints and items for free after IAE ends. Ships pledged during IAE come bundled with these rewards.

Important: Ships must be in your web hangar at the end of IAE—buyback doesn't count. If you melt before receiving paints, you lose eligibility.

Days 11-14: Finale (November 30 – December 3)

All previously available ships return to rental terminals for one last flight. Plus, new Warbond Daily Deals refresh with select manufacturer offers and popular deals from earlier days.

Twitch Drops: New for IAE 2955

For the first time in Star Citizen history, Twitch Drops are live!

Reward: Exclusive full armor set
How to Unlock: Watch any opted-in Star Citizen stream for a total of 4 hours during IAE
Setup: Link your RSI and Twitch accounts (details on robertsspaceindustries.com)

Stock-Limited Ships & Waves

Certain high-demand ships are limited to one per account and sold in six waves to accommodate global time zones:

Wave 1: 16:00 UTC
Wave 2: 20:00 UTC
Wave 3: 00:00 UTC
Wave 4: 04:00 UTC (next day)
Wave 5: 08:00 UTC (next day)
Wave 6: 12:00 UTC (next day)

Stock-Limited Ship Schedule:

Nov 20: RSI Constellation Phoenix
Nov 21: Origin 890 Jump
Nov 22: Drake Kraken, Drake Kraken Privateer
Nov 24: MISC Hull E
Nov 26: Consolidated Outland Pioneer
Nov 28: Aegis Idris-P, Aegis Javelin

Warbond Daily Deals

Each day features exclusive Warbond offers—fresh-cash-only deals running for 24 hours. During the Finale (Nov 30 – Dec 3), a refresh brings new deals and select popular offers from earlier days.

Price Adjustments Coming Post-IAE

Final opportunity to pledge at current pricing:

After IAE 2955, the following ships will receive price increases to reflect development updates:

MISC Hull A
MISC Hull B
Argo RAFT
Gatac Railen

If you've been considering any of these, now is the time to secure them before the adjustment.

Anvil F8C Lightning: No More Gold License Required

Previously, pledging for the F8C Lightning required a rare CDF F8C Certification Pass (Gold License) obtained during select in-game events. Starting with IAE 2955, Gold Licenses are no longer required—the F8C Lightning is now available to all players for pledge (still limited to one per account).

Special Nightweaver Livery: Players who previously redeemed a Gold License OR reached Wing Commander Concierge level before Anvil Day will receive an exclusive commemorative Nightweaver livery (not giftable, one per eligible player). This reward is not retroactive for future Concierge qualifiers.

Tips to Maximize Your IAE Experience

Plan ahead: Review the manufacturer schedule and prioritize ships you want to test
Rent strategically: Each ship is rentable once for 48 hours—don't waste it on day one if you're not ready
Check terminals daily: Many flyable ships aren't on display but are available at rental kiosks
Watch for Warbond deals: Limited-time offers can save you credits or unlock exclusive items
Set alarms for stock-limited ships: Capital ships and rare vessels sell out fast—pick your wave
Explore Orison: The Vision Center is stunning, but don't miss Orison's restaurants, bars, and scenic platforms
Join the community: Spectrum, Discord, and in-game chat are buzzing with tips, org recruitment, and impromptu events

New Player Resources

First time in Star Citizen? These resources will get you started:

New Player Guide: Comprehensive tips on controls, missions, and progression
Welcome Hub: Video tutorials covering navigation, combat, trading, and more
Guide System: Veteran players volunteer as mentors to help newcomers
Knowledge Base: Articles covering account creation, equipment, ships, and troubleshooting

Inviting Friends & Referral Bonuses

IAE is the perfect time to introduce friends to Star Citizen:

Referral Bonus: Friends using your referral code during account creation receive 50,000 UEC
You Earn: Referral points if they purchase a game package after Free Fly
IAE Special: Extra referral bonuses during the event (details on RSI website)

FAQ

Do I need a Star Citizen game package to attend IAE?No. Free Fly runs from November 20 to December 3—anyone can play for free. Just create an account and download the game. You'll receive a Crusader Intrepid starter ship for the event duration.How do I access my starter ship during Free Fly?Go to any ASOP ship retrieval terminal and request the Crusader Intrepid. It's automatically available to all accounts during IAE.Can I rent every ship at IAE?Nearly 200 ships and vehicles are rentable, but each can only be rented once per account for 48 hours. Not all ships are displayed—check rental terminals daily for the full list.What are Best in Show paints and who gets them?The four Ship Showdown 2955 semi-finalists (RSI Polaris, Anvil Asgard, RSI Zeus Mk II ES, Anvil Gladiator) receive exclusive BIS liveries and posters. Owners of these specific ships in their web hangar at the end of IAE receive the items for free. Ships pledged during IAE come bundled with the rewards.What are stock-limited ships?High-demand capital and rare ships sold in limited quantities across six daily waves (starting 16:00 UTC). Each player can purchase one per account. Examples: Idris-P, Javelin, Kraken, 890 Jump.What are Warbond deals?Exclusive 24-hour offers requiring fresh cash (not store credit). They often feature discounts or bonus items. Finale days (Nov 30 – Dec 3) bring a refresh with new deals and returning favorites.How do Twitch Drops work?Link your RSI and Twitch accounts, then watch any opted-in Star Citizen stream for a total of 4 hours during IAE. You'll unlock an exclusive armor set. Details and setup instructions are on the RSI website.Why are some ships getting price increases after IAE?MISC Hull A, MISC Hull B, Argo RAFT, and Gatac Railen are receiving price adjustments post-IAE to reflect recent and upcoming development work. IAE is your last chance to pledge at current pricing.

Conclusion: Your IAE 2955 Checklist

The Intergalactic Aerospace Expo 2955 is Star Citizen's biggest event of the year. Whether you're hunting for your dream ship, testing new careers, or just soaking in the spectacle at Orison's Vision Center, there's something for everyone.

Before you go:

✅ Mark your calendar: November 20 – December 3, 2025
✅ Create/link accounts for Free Fly and Twitch Drops
✅ Review the manufacturer schedule and plan your test flights
✅ Set alarms for stock-limited ship waves if you're hunting capital ships
✅ Check Warbond deals daily for exclusive offers
✅ Invite friends with your referral code for bonuses
✅ Explore Orison—it's not just an expo, it's an experience

See you at the Vision Center, Citizen. Clear skies and safe jumps! 🚀