Dallas-Fort Worth Archives - FLYING Magazine https://cms.flyingmag.com/tag/dallas-fort-worth-2/ The world's most widely read aviation magazine Fri, 22 Mar 2024 18:20:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.4 Wing Partners with DoorDash for Wendy’s Drone Delivery in Virginia https://www.flyingmag.com/wing-partners-with-doordash-for-wendys-drone-delivery-in-virginia/ Fri, 22 Mar 2024 18:20:10 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=199030 The partners will begin flying out of a single Wendy’s location in Christiansburg, Virginia, with plans to expand the service to other U.S. cities later this year.

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Standard delivery or pickup? Those are the options for most DoorDash users, but customers in Christiansburg, Virginia, now have a third choice.

On Thursday, Wing, the drone delivery arm of Google parent Alphabet, expanded its partnership with DoorDash to the U.S. following a yearlong trial in Australia. In 2022, the companies agreed to integrate their marketplaces, allowing Wing deliveries to be facilitated through the DoorDash platform. It was the first time a drone delivery provider made its service available on a third-party app.

Initially, the service will be based out of a single Wendy’s location in Christiansburg—Wing’s first U.S. commercial market—with plans to explore other U.S. cities later this year. Dallas-Fort Worth, where Wing operates drone delivery with partners such as Walmart, is a potential candidate.

DoorDash views automation as a way to tailor solutions around customer demand and improve platform efficiency. Its partnership with Wing was born out of DoorDash Labs, a robotics and automation arm established in 2021. With the subsidiary still in its infancy, Christiansburg may well be the tip of the iceberg for DoorDash and Wing.

“We are committed to advancing last-mile logistics by building a multi-modal delivery platform that serves all sides of our marketplace,” said Harrison Shih, senior director of DoorDash Labs. “We’re optimistic about the value drone delivery will bring to our platform as we work to offer more efficient, sustainable, and convenient delivery options for consumers.”

Wing, along with medical drone delivery provider Zipline, is one of two titans in the drone delivery industry, having completed more than 350,000 deliveries. The company has flown in Christiansburg since 2019, the same year it launched service in Logan, Australia, a suburb of Brisbane.

In 2022, DoorDash became a partner, agreeing to facilitate Wing deliveries in Logan on its platform. The partners would ultimately expand the service to three locations in Australia’s Queensland region, with more than 60 participating merchants.

“Expanding our partnership with DoorDash and launching in the U.S. is a direct result of the success we’ve seen from our initial collaboration in Australia, where Wing has served tens of thousands of customers via the DoorDash app for over a year now,” said Cosimo Leipold, head of partnerships at Wing.

In Christiansburg, customers with eligible addresses can visit the DoorDash website or app and select the Wendy’s location at 2355 N. Franklin Street. At checkout, they’ll have the option to select drone delivery alongside standard delivery and pickup.

Wendy’s employees will prepare and package orders, and Wing drones will complete deliveries straight to the customer’s doorstep. From order to delivery, the process typically completes within 30 minutes. According to Wing’s early testing data from Australia, its fastest delivery took just over seven minutes.

DoorDash in 2022 explained that the service is intended for small, short-range deliveries, such as Wendy’s takeout orders, which are likely to yield smaller tips. Drones will complement the company’s delivery drivers, who will handle larger orders.

FLYING got a firsthand look at Wing’s service in Dallas-Fort Worth in October. At a Walmart Supercenter in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, the company’s operation occupies a small portion of the store’s parking lot. Other stores can set up Wing hubs on roofs or in adjacent empty spaces.

The system is almost entirely automated, designed to integrate within partners’ existing systems and workflows. All store associates need to do is bring orders from the store to the parking lot.

Wing handles things from there. An automated flight planning and uncrewed traffic management system plans routes, accounting for factors like weather, time of day, and other objects in the airspace. Then a Wing order loader attaches the payload to the drone’s tether.

All on its own, the drone takes off, flies to its destination, lowers the tether, releases the order, and flies back to continue charging. In the air, the aircraft cruises at 65 mph (56 knots) at roughly 200 feet, capable of flying in light wind, moderate rain, or even snow.

All Wing drones flying in the U.S. are overseen by operators at two Remote Operation Centers in Texas and California. Like air traffic controllers, they monitor dots on a screen and step in when an accident could occur. The company’s software also determines which drones might be in need of repairs and grounds them autonomously.

Soon, Wing’s operation will require even fewer people. The company is preparing to roll out its AutoLoader technology, which would eliminate the need for order loaders. Similar to curbside delivery, store associates will simply place orders outside for the drone to pick up on its own.

Wing is also developing a new, larger delivery drone with double the payload of its current model. About 3 in 10 Wing deliveries require two or more drones, and the updated design is intended to streamline those orders. It will complement the company’s existing model rather than replace it.

Recently, the firm obtained an FAA grant for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flights without visual observers in Dallas. Visual observers are required by the FAA for BVLOS flights unless the operator has a waiver. Wing instead will use ADS-B transponders and receivers, extending the delivery range it has with human observers along its routes.

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Becoming an Aviation Real Estate Agent https://www.flyingmag.com/becoming-an-aviation-real-estate-agent/ Mon, 29 Jan 2024 21:15:25 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=194036 John Naugle has discovered a unique way to combine his interests.

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When John Naugle of Lewisville, Texas, first stepped foot into the cockpit, he had no idea aviation would become intertwined with his career and passion—real estate. Now, only a few short years later, Naugle has become a respected member of the aviation real estate industry, focusing on representing buyers and sellers of residential airpark properties in the red-hot Dallas-Fort Worth area.

“My background is property management, and I worked in the apartment industry for a long time,” Naugle said. “Then three years back, I got licensed in real estate, and at that time I was a student pilot. But I started out just doing traditional residential real estate. Then I met a gentleman named Russ Keith, who lived right across the street from my mom. One day I was walking my dog with my wife from her house, and I noted that Russ was in his garage working on an airplane. I go, ‘What’s going on here?’ He told me that he is a pilot and is building a little two-place biplane. Lo and behold, I look over and see that he is also in real estate.” 

Naugle was surprised that his longtime neighbor was interested in the same things he was. What were the chances? The two hit it off immediately.  

“At the time, I had recently started a group called Airplanes and Coffee with Mike Roberts, who was the person who first got me into aviation,” Naugle said. “I had found out about Cars and Coffee and thought it would be great to do something similar, where a group of friends meets up at the airport once a month to hang out and talk about aviation. I invited Russ to one of these events, and the next thing I know, he’d become a well-established part of the group, and I started working for him at his company, Boomtown Brokerage.” 

Naugle finished up his private pilot training shortly after making the move to the new company. After joining forces, the two pilots decided to shift much of their daily focus to the niche industry of aviation real estate almost exclusively. 

“We have sold a lot of property out at Thompson Field (1TA7) in Canton, Texas, over 30 lots there last year and basically finished up that community,” he said. “Now we have another community that we are the exclusive team selling runway lots, Aero Village in Krum, Texas. The neighborhood, which consists of 14 homesites, is based around Bird Dog Airfield (E58).

“We have just been rocking and rolling and having a lot of fun selling airpark homes to pilots and trying to save these communities from nonpilots moving in that don’t care about the runway or aviation focus. They just want to use the hangar for cars, or whatever else. It is a huge benefit as pilots to help get other aviators into airparks.

“Not only can we travel to all of the airpark communities around quite easily, also having the same experiences as our clients is important. Some pilots really care a lot about having a paved runway; others are fine with a grass strip or even prefer one. There are so many differences in airparks around here, not to mention the differences between airparks and traditional neighborhoods. We understand the different types of fly-in communities and the homes there, which we can communicate well to our potential buyers.” 

Naugle pointed out that Texas is a great place to be involved in aviation real estate. And he said it is an exciting job for him to understand the diverse fly-in communities nearby and showcase them to others. 

“Here in North Texas, there is a huge population of not only pilots but also airparks,” he said. “We have a lot of transplants from out of state that are interested in property here. DFW is booming, and a lot of people are getting jobs around here and want to be within an hour of Dallas Fort Worth International [KDFW] or Love Field [KDAL], for example, and we do our best to help them find that right home.”

Naugle provided a brief overview of some of the airparks in the area:

Pecan Plantation (0TX1)/The Landings (66TE)

Pecan Plantation offers a unique opportunity to live in one of the most amenity-rich communities in Texas. It features a full-service clubhouse, activity center, pools, golf, tennis, marina, equestrian center, riverside parks, and access to Lake Granbury. It has two airport runways, and both airparks are in the same enormous community. The Landings is the newest section and is currently selling lots.

Airpark Dallas (F69) 

This airpark community is located in the heart of Plano, one of the most desirable cities in North Texas. World-class shopping and entertainment are just a stone’s throw away from this marvelous community. 

Eagles Nest Estates (T56)  

This is one of the most active flying communities in the entire DFW area. You can find groups of pilots flying together in formation almost daily. 

Propwash (16X) 

Between its gorgeous 3,000-by-60-foot asphalt runway and the number of warbirds that call this airpark home, this community is a local favorite.

Hidden Valley Airpark (5TX0) 

Hidden Valley Airpark is one of the premier fly-in communities in the country. This beautiful 300-acre gated-community offers families a unique landing place to call home.

Naugle advised that he has learned a lot from his business partner, Russ Keith, both about real estate and aviation. The two can routinely be seen flying in North Texas in a Cessna 172 and are always happy to lend a helping hand to those looking to capitalize on the dream of living alongside their aircraft. 

Russ Keith (left) and John Naugle. [Courtesy: John Naugle]

“Russ has over 30 years of real estate experience, so he has a huge following,” Naugle said. “He went from zero flight time to CFII in only 102 days. I love to harp on that because that’s pretty unique. He’s just a swell guy, and I’m really grateful to be partnered up with him.

“Being active in the aviation community is super helpful for our business. We are always at fly-ins or hosting fly-ins with Airplanes and Coffee, and are active with several different aviation groups. We also travel to Sun ’n Fun in the spring and EAA AirVenture in the summer each year. Outside of that, we regularly go to these aviation communities and are friends with the pilots there. We love what we do, so jump at the chance to go check out a new hangar home or go see someone’s new airplane. Really being completely involved with aviation is what it is all about for us and keeps us in the loop.”

Living alongside your airplane is a dream come true for many. Naugle leaves a parting thought for pilots who may be considering joining the airpark lifestyle: “Do it! The most common regret we hear from clients is how they wish they would have made the decision sooner. If you love flying and spending your time around aircraft, there is no place better to live than an airpark.”

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Walmart Adding 1.8 Million Households to Dallas-Fort Worth Drone Delivery Service https://www.flyingmag.com/walmart-adding-1-8-million-households-to-dallas-fort-worth-drone-delivery-service/ https://www.flyingmag.com/walmart-adding-1-8-million-households-to-dallas-fort-worth-drone-delivery-service/#comments Thu, 11 Jan 2024 14:58:48 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=192694 The retailer and partners Zipline and Wing will deliver to three-quarters of the area’s population using drones.

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The world’s largest retailer just announced what it claims to be the biggest drone delivery expansion of any U.S. company.

Walmart—which uses drones from partners such as Zipline and Wing to deliver within minutes to customers nationwide—on Tuesday said it would add 1.8 million households to its Dallas-Fort Worth service area, which will soon cover three-quarters of the area’s population. According to the retailer, no U.S. company has offered drone delivery to as many households in a single market.

The expansion adds stores in 30 towns and municipalities to Walmart’s existing Dallas-Fort Worth service, which itself is part of a network spanning nearly 40 hubs in seven states. 

Zipline and Wing, both of which were recently approved by the FAA to fly their drones beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) of a visual observer, will power the deliveries. The companies’ new permissions—part of an FAA push to grow the industry within the U.S.—will allow them to fly further than previously permitted.

“Customers will have access to a broad assortment of items from Walmart available for delivery to their home in just minutes,” said Prathibha Rajashekhar, senior vice president of innovation and automation for Walmart U.S. “Drone delivery is not just a concept of the future, it’s happening now and will soon be a reality for millions of additional Texans.”

Walmart said Dallas-Fort Worth customers can expect the buzzing aircraft to arrive in as little as 10 minutes but no more than 30. Across two years of trials, the retailer has completed more than 20,000 deliveries of items such as snacks, beverages, and cold medicines, including fragile cargo such as eggs. Thousands of items are eligible for drone delivery, but customers must be within 10 miles of a store offering the service.

With the expansion, Dallas-Fort Worth is shaping up to be Walmart’s largest U.S. drone delivery market initially. But the retailer has an additional 4,700 stores located within 10 miles of 90 percent of the U.S. population, adding plenty of room for scale when the time comes.

Zipline, which has worked with Walmart since 2021, is actually the world’s largest drone delivery provider by sheer volume. The company has flown more than 60 million commercial miles, completing 880,000 deliveries in the process. Wing, which ranks second on the list, has made about 350,000 deliveries, according to its website.

Tuesday’s announcement added more food and convenience delivery to Zipline’s profile, which largely comprises medical shipments of blood, vaccines, and other critical cargo. The company said the expansion will allow it to serve 1,000 times as many Walmart customers. For the past two years, it’s delivered from a store in Arkansas, where it says customers now perceive operations as “totally normal.”

By the time Zipline and Walmart begin an operational pilot later this year, the company expects to have completed tens of thousands of trials with Platform 2 (P2), its next-generation delivery system. 

Among other things, P2 will introduce a modified drone, docking, charging, and delivery infrastructure for businesses, and an autonomous droid capable of guiding packages to spaces as small as a patio table. It aims to automate more tasks for customers and enable more precise drop-offs than the company’s existing system, which uses a parachute.

Zipline’s P2 delivery droid uses fans and onboard sensors to autonomously guide packages into tight locations. [Courtesy: Zipline]

P2 is expected to roll out across the U.S. this year—including in Dallas-Fort Worth following pilot flights with Walmart.

“Autonomous delivery is finally ready for national scale in the U.S.” said Keller Rinaudo Cliffton, co-founder and CEO of Zipline. “Zipline is excited to enable Walmart’s vision of providing customer delivery so fast it feels like teleportation…We’re excited for folks across Dallas-Fort Worth to experience delivery that is seven times as fast, zero emissions, and whisper quiet.”

Like Zipline, Wing, a subsidiary of Google parent Alphabet, has spent the past few years developing its U.S. network with Walmart.

The company has four years of commercial residential service under its belt, including more than a year and a half in DFW. Those operations recently ramped up with deliveries out of two Walmart Supercenters in the suburbs of Frisco and Lewisville, reaching a combined 60,000 households. Wing expects its next expansion to be completed within the year and add “millions” of customers.

Wing drones have spent the past four months delivering Walmart packages in Dallas-Fort Worth. [Courtesy: Wing]

In four months of service in Dallas-Fort Worth with Walmart, customers have been clamoring for more, with the top 25 percent of customers ordering twice per week on average, Wing said. Sustainability is a proposition to customers, but so is speed—the company’s drones typically spend just five minutes in the air during a delivery.

Now, range could become a selling point. With its recent FAA approval, Wing can expand its delivery zone beyond the previously enforced 6-mile radius. That means each of its delivery sites will be able to reach more customers.

“Our first few months delivering to Walmart customers have made it clear: Demand for drone delivery is real,” said Wing CEO Adam Woodworth. “The response has been incredible from customers ordering drone delivery from Walmart every day, and it’s a testament to our partnership that we’re now expanding our footprint to bring this innovative delivery option to millions of Texans. If this milestone is any indication, we believe 2024 is the year of drone delivery.”

Zipline and Wing were among the first U.S. firms to receive FAA Part 135 air carrier approval, which allows them to fly drones commercially. Only five companies in the space have those permissions, with the others being Amazon Prime Air, UPS Flight Forward, and Causey Aviation Unmanned, the partner of another Walmart collaborator, Israeli manufacturer Flytrex.

Drone delivery has not quite reached the mass adoption phase. But with Walmart’s massive expansion, that point is beginning to enter focus.

The key to scale will be the finalization of drone delivery regulations, which are still being developed. The FAA, for example, has proposed final rules for BVLOS operations and is coordinating with industry stakeholders to get it on the books. Until that happens, companies will need to rely on waivers like Zipline or Wing’s to start flying.

Those early operations—Walmart’s among them—will help the FAA learn what restrictions may need to be added, removed, or modified. In the meantime, less established competitors will continue to languish under heavy limitations. But the hope is that Walmart, Zipline, and Wing can give the FAA the confidence to open things up for the rest of the industry.

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Overair Partners with DFW Airport and City of Arlington to Bring Air Taxis to Texas https://www.flyingmag.com/overair-partners-with-dfw-airport-and-city-of-arlington-to-bring-air-taxis-to-texas/ Thu, 16 Nov 2023 14:10:00 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=188055 The company will bring aircraft, vertiport infrastructure, and electric charging stations to the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area in a bid to launch regional AAM services.

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The Dallas-Fort Worth metro area has already welcomed small delivery drones to the region. But as they say: Everything is bigger in Texas.

On Thursday, Santa Ana, California-based Overair announced a pair of partnerships to bring a much larger kind of emerging aircraft to the area: electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis. The manufacturer plans to launch advanced air mobility (AAM) operations out of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (KDFW) and Arlington Municipal Airport (KGKY), with plans to expand the services throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area.

Overair intends to bring not just eVTOL aircraft but also vertiports, charging stations, and new policies to the region, with an eye toward building a full-fledged AAM ecosystem—one that could last years into the future.

The company signed a memorandum of understanding with DFW Airport that calls on the partners to gauge the development of vertiports and eVTOL aircraft operations across North Texas. The agreement includes a “feasibility assessment” of passenger air taxi operations, which will evaluate regional demand and scenarios for air taxi flights in and out of vertiports.

Overair’s flagship Butterfly aircraft was designed with that use case in mind. The air taxi is capable of flying a pilot and up to five passengers on zero-emission, 100 sm (87 nm) trips at a cruise speed of about 174 knots.

“DFW Airport has a long history of building the groundwork today for the airport needs of the future,” said Paul Puopolo, executive vice president of innovation for the airport. “By exploring the future of aviation now, we will help better position the entire DFW metroplex for the next era of innovative air mobility.”

The agreement will also create a joint working group between the partners, which will dig into the policies and infrastructure required to integrate AAM into the region long term. In addition, it will assess Butterfly’s operational procedures: approach, landing, taxiing, charging, takeoff, departure, safety protocols, and loading and unloading passengers, to name a few.

“[Thursday’s] agreement is a major step toward bringing AAM to one of the world’s largest and fastest growing metropolitan areas,” said Valerie Manning, chief commercial officer of Overair. “We look forward to working closely with DFW to ensure the more than 8 million people living throughout this region, along with the millions of visitors per year, will have easy access to safe, fast, affordable, and eco-friendly travel options.”

Separately, Overair announced a collaboration with Arlington, Texas, which it said is the first direct partnership between a Texas city and an eVTOL manufacturer. Similar to the agreement with DFW Airport, Overair will work with the city to offer air taxi services regionwide, starting with flights out of Arlington Municipal.

Those initial trips are expected to fly passengers in and out of the city’s entertainment district, which is home to a pair of Six Flags amusement parks, a quartet of professional sports teams, and a plethora of restaurants, shopping centers, museums, and event venues.

The agreement calls for Overair to add vertiports and electric aircraft chargers to the region in addition to air taxis. It will also see the company set up a base of operations in North Central Texas, which is expected to bring new jobs to residents.

“This partnership with Overair not only advances the city of Arlington as a leader in implementing innovative transportation solutions, it also provides high-tech and engineering jobs to our residents and the community at large—ultimately creating a new mobility ecosystem that will provide socioeconomic progress for decades to come,” said Arlington Mayor Jim Ross.

Like the agreement with DFW Airport, the collaboration between Overair and Arlington includes a feasibility study and the formation of a joint working group, which will oversee the project to make sure key milestones are met on schedule.

“[Thursday’s] announcement is a major step toward positioning Arlington as one of the first cities in the world to integrate fully electric AAM capabilities into its transportation ecosystem,” said Manning. “Electric AAM is an example of transportation evolving with the needs of a growing society. We are incredibly excited to help drive this transportation evolution in north central Texas and to expand our presence in this region, known for its talent and technology.”

Laying the Foundation

Overair is targeting service with Butterfly in 2028. As of October, it was working with the FAA on its G-1 Stage 3 means of compliance. But to get to scaled air taxi operations, the right infrastructure will need to be in place.

Currently, the DFW region has one large vertiport—the Dallas Central Business District Vertiport (49T) at Dallas Executive Airport (KRBD). Another site is being developed by Volatus Infrastructure at Greenport International Airport, a “green airport” project under construction outside Austin. Vertiport firm Ferrovial, meanwhile, recently moved its headquarters to the Dallas-Fort Worth suburb of Irving.

Those projects could give Overair a baseline level of infrastructure, but it will certainly need more to expand AAM services regionwide. Electric charging stations are the other key piece of that puzzle—it’s unclear whether the firm will build those systems itself or if it will partner with a manufacturer like Beta Technologies, which recently sold several chargers to Archer Aviation.

In addition to Thursday’s agreements with the DFW airport and the city of Arlington, Overair has a partnership with helicopter operator Bristow Group, based a few hundred miles south in Houston. Bristow placed a preorder for 20 to 50 Butterflys and plans to fly the eVTOL on commercial air taxi routes in its service areas, which include several cities in and around Texas.

Farther to the west, Overair and several other eVTOL manufacturers are working with Urban Movement Labs, a Los Angeles government-community transportation partnership. It plans to launch in the city in the future and will highlight Butterfly during the city’s 2028 Olympic Games, alongside other players.

More recently, the manufacturer agreed to deliver 20 aircraft to South Korean helicopter transportation provider HeliKorea. It also plans to launch services on Jeju, the country’s largest island and a major tourist destination.

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Manna Drone Delivery Launches in U.S. with Texas Trick-or-Treaters https://www.flyingmag.com/manna-drone-delivery-launches-in-u-s-with-texas-trick-or-treaters/ https://www.flyingmag.com/manna-drone-delivery-launches-in-u-s-with-texas-trick-or-treaters/#comments Thu, 02 Nov 2023 19:34:44 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=187022 Kicking things off by delivering Halloween goodies to customers’ front doors, Manna could expand its U.S. service through a partnership with Hillwood Communities.

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Cold, dreary weather is always a threat to derail Halloween festivities, as was the case in Dallas-Fort Worth this year. But for trick-or-treaters in one of the area’s neighborhoods, drones came to the rescue.

“We are taking Halloween to new heights with a fun new way for kids to trick or treat—especially when the weather isn’t very Halloween compatible,” said Andrew Patton, the head of Ireland-based Manna Drone Delivery’s U.S. business.

On Tuesday, Manna drones flew chocolate, candies, and other sweet treats straight to the doorsteps of clamoring children (and adults) in the Dallas-Fort Worth suburb of Northlake. The Halloween-themed deliveries marked the company’s official U.S. launch, first teased in March.

But Manna, which is backed by Coca-Cola HBC and operates one of Europe’s largest drone delivery services, will deliver more than just Kit Kats and Sour Patch Kids.

“After over four years of operations and over 150,000 flights logged in Europe, we are excited to be touching down in the United States to offer the residents of Dallas-Fort Worth a lightning-quick and sustainable home delivery service,” said Patton.

Patton brings some traditional aviation expertise to the table—the Manna executive holds a commercial pilot’s license with 1,900 hours of flight time and multiple jet type ratings. He flies a Yakovlev Yak-50 aerobatic airplane whenever time permits.

Moving forward, residents of Northlake’s Pecan Square community will be able to order drinks and food (including more chocolate and candy) from local retailers Farmhouse Coffee & Treasures and The Touring Chocolatier, as well as from a few “notable national brands.” 

The service will run on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, delivering items in less than three minutes on average, Manna said. Patton told FLYING the company plans to deliver to the yards of all 1,600 households in Pecan Square, rolling out service with a “staggered” approach.

According to the company’s website, when an order is placed through its app, Manna drones take off from a delivery hub, flying at 60 mph (52 knots) at a height of around 200 feet. When they arrive above the customer’s yard, the drones descend to about 100 feet, lowering packages gently to the ground using a tether. That allows it to deliver delicate items such as eggs.

Residents in the Dallas-Fort Worth suburb of Northlake’s Pecan Square community can order drone delivery through the Manna app. [Courtesy: Manna]

Manna claims that when its drones are soaring at their cruising altitude, they’re perceived as silent by people on the ground. And when descending to complete a delivery, the company describes the aircraft’s buzzing as inaudible to customers indoors.

To kick off its U.S. launch, Manna also partnered with the local Tarrant Area Food Bank, which provides close to a million meals per week to North Texans. The company will make a donation for every flight it conducts this year.

The Start of Something Bigger?

While Pecan Square is Manna’s first and only U.S. drone delivery service area, it’s unlikely to be the last.

Pecan Square was developed by Hillwood Communities and is located near the company’s AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone (MIZ). The MIZ aims to test and scale drone delivery and unmanned aircraft technologies in a real-world environment.

A Manna drone flies over Hillwood Communities’ Pecan Square neighborhood. [Courtesy: Hillwood Communities]

Manna’s Dallas-Fort Worth launch came a few months after it and Hillwood announced the beginning of trials at the MIZ, with the ultimate goal of offering drone delivery to “a select number of Hillwood’s residential developments.” 

The implication is that Pecan Square is only the first site. Per that announcement, Manna plans to eventually offer its service to more than 10,000 local residents.

“Hillwood is the premier developer of best-in-class residential communities in Texas,” Patton told FLYING. “Hillwood’s legacy of technology-forward communities and its investment in next-generation autonomous transportation technology through the AllianceTexas MIZ make it an extremely well-suited partner for Manna as we move into the U.S.”

Another major drone delivery player, Alphabet’s Wing, tested its service at the MIZ’s Flight Test Center in 2021. A year later, it launched a delivery hub at Hillwood’s Frisco Station mixed-use development in partnership with Walgreens. Bell Textron has also demonstrated drone package delivery at the AllianceTexas site.

“Drone deliveries are here to stay, and we’re leaning into this efficient and innovative delivery option,” Chris Ash, senior vice president of aviation business development at Hillwood and the leader of MIZ, told FLYING. “We will continue to build great relationships with more companies to further develop and commercialize this technology that reduces roadway congestion and emissions.”

In August, Wing expanded its Dallas-Fort Worth operations to a Walmart Supercenter in Frisco, which FLYING received an inside look at last month. Israel’s Flytrex has offered drone delivery in the DFW suburb of Granbury since 2022. And elsewhere in the state, Amazon Prime Air last year landed in College Station, adding prescription drone delivery to that service in October.

Manna, meanwhile, has primarily focused on growing domestic operations. Its largest markets are the Dublin suburb of Balbriggan and a few other locations in Ireland—per an interview with Forbes, it has completed thousands of flights per day in multiple Irish markets. According to CEO Bobby Healy, those services are one-tenth the cost of a human driver in a car.

Healy told Forbes the company’s philosophy is to target highly populated U.S. markets, drawing from its experience flying over urban densities of 10,000 people per square mile. Dallas-Fort Worth, one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the U.S., appears to fit that bill. At the same time, Manna is eyeing an expansion into mainland Europe.

“Manna is doing great things in Dublin, and we’re excited to see them make their U.S. debut in Texas and within a Hillwood community,” said Ash. “The AllianceTexas MIZ connects the people, places and ideas needed to propel innovation in surface and air mobility forward. Manna and Wing, another great partner to Hillwood, will continue to benefit from this ecosystem.”

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