Thunderbird Drone Festival brings a second year of high-tech innovation and family fun to OSU-Tulsa

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Media Contact: Aaron Ross Campbell | OSU-Tulsa Communications Coordinator | 918-899-4960 | aaron.ross.campbell@okstate.edu

Hundreds flocked to Oklahoma State University-Tulsa to discover and admire the latest in drone technology at the free 2025 Thunderbird Drone Festival. This is the fifth year for the annual festival, and its second year at OSU-Tulsa.

The festival is now presented by OSU’s Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education and its OSU-Tulsa-based LaunchPad Center, marking another milestone in the mission to make Tulsa a hub for Unmanned Aircraft System technology.

“It’s exciting to see how OAIRE’s involvement elevates the festival’s scale and visibility,” said Natalie Noles, business operations and workforce development manager for OAIRE. “I’m hopeful that this festival will strengthen Oklahoma’s identity as a national leader in drone and aerospace development, with OAIRE at the center of that progress. Ultimately, this is all about sparking curiosity, building community and showing how aerospace and drones are already transforming our world in safe, creative and meaningful ways.”

The festival kicked off on Friday with an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) panel and consortium, bringing experts such as OAIRE Executive Director Dr. Jamey Jacob and select Helmerich Research Center faculty together in conversation with an audience filled with enthusiasts, educators and leaders, including professional drone pilots and Oklahoma State Senator John Haste.

The morning’s events concluded with a demonstration of various AAM and advanced technology devices used in a simulated emergency setting, delivering medical supplies and aid to first responders on the ground.

Friday night’s drone film and photo festival received around 170 entrants from around the world, including representation from countries such as Iceland and Bangladesh. This year’s awards also featured categories for students and first-time filmmakers, encouraging emerging talent to be a part of the show.

“The diversity of entrants is remarkable both geographically and artistically,” Noles said. “We saw many visually striking works featuring volcanoes, wilderness and urban skylines.”

Following the film and photo festival,100 synchronized drones lit up the skies for a drone light show, creating colorful images above the downtown skyline.

The fun continued into Saturday, where drone soccer, obstacle courses and a drone flight simulator were on display, alongside a series of STEM breakout sessions for educators. With OAIRE’s new coordination of the festival, this year’s STEM breakout component was much more robust, featuring more hands-on learning opportunities for educators to pass onto their students through interactive drone and robotics experiences.

“We want students and educators to feel inspired to bring drone technology into classrooms, and for industry and academia to connect in ways that drive innovation and workforce growth,” Noles said. “I hope people leave with a deeper appreciation for drones, not just as gadgets, but as tools for creativity, science and problem-solving.”

The Thunderbird Drone Festival was sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautic, AirVūz, Skyway Range and NORDAM.

To learn more about OSU’s efforts to be the global leader in emerging aerospace technology, visit the OSU Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education website.