Thunderbird Drone Festival Launches 2024 Event | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-07.07.25

Airborne-NextGen-07.08.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.09.25

Airborne-FlightTraining-07.10.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.11.25

Mon, Oct 07, 2024

Thunderbird Drone Festival Launches 2024 Event

Starting Strong With UAS/AAM Symposium and Bridenstine Keynote

The 2024 Thunderbird Drone Festival kicked off with a UAS and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Symposium and a keynote address from former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. The symposium, hosted by the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics along with OSU’s Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education, brought in experienced leaders and students to discuss the future of the industry.

Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell launched the symposium by stating: “Oklahoma’s advanced mobility strategy is set to bring $8.9 billion in economic benefits and create over 9,000 jobs by 2045. Our state is becoming a hub for innovation in UAS and AAM, and the benefits will be felt across every sector of our economy.”

Former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine delivered the keynote address, drawing special attention to Oklahoma's contribution to mobility defense technology. He noted, “Our military installations, like Tinker Air Force Base, Fort Sill, and Camp Gruber, are central to the nation’s future in advanced air mobility and unmanned systems. Oklahoma is well-positioned to lead in this space, leveraging both its aerospace history and forward-thinking strategy in UAS technologies.”

ODAA Executive Director Grayson Ardies was also featured to discuss the economic impact of Oklahoma's aerospace sector. He claimed that it supports 206,000 jobs and generates $44 billion annually.

In addition, presentations from Kinsley Jordan on Tulsa's tech hub development and Dr. Johnny Stephens from OSU highlighted the role of universities in preparing students for the future of aerospace. This quality was further demonstrated in a youth panel, led by Dr. Jamey Jacob, which showcased projects from local high school and OSU students.

The UAS/AAM Symposium marked the opening of the Thunderbird Drone Festival, held October 4 and 5 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Events proceeded with a film festival, light show, drone demonstrations, and other prominent speakers.

FMI: www.thunderbirddronefestival.com

Advertisement

More News

NTSB Final Report: Aviat A1

Airplane Bounced About 3 Ft Then Touched Back Down And Then, With No Brakes Applied, The Airplane Began Veering To The Left Analysis: The pilot entered the airport traffic pattern >[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (07.08.25)

Aero Linx: British Microlight Aircraft Association (BMAA) The primary focus within all aviation activity is SAFETY. In all aspects of our sport SAFETY must come first, whether it b>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: Fly Corvair’s Reliable Engine Alternative

From SnF25 (YouTube Edition): William Wynne Builds Practical Aircraft Engines on the Corvair Platform Seeking an affordable alternative to the traditional aircraft engine options, >[...]

ANN FAQ: Contributing To Aero-TV

How To Get A Story On Aero-TV News/Feature Programming How do I submit a story idea or lead to Aero-TV? If you would like to submit a story idea or lead, please contact Jim Campbel>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: CiES Fuel-Quantity and e-Throttle Systems Praised

From 2023 (YouTube Edition): Bridge of CiES CiES Inc. is a Bend, Oregon-based designer and manufacturer of modular embedded aircraft systems and sensors. The company’s fuel-l>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC