Commercial UAV News
How Will Extended Flight Time for Drones be Powered?
Offering Circular | Selected Risks Related to this Offering | Parallel Flight Technologies' SEC EDGAR Page | Signed to Trade disclosure
For more information on Parallel Flight Technologies, download and review the Offering Circular. The Offering Circular should be reviewed before making an investment decision.
Large Market Potential: Operating between 3 large industries. $65B Industrial Logistics + $20B Healthcare + $10B Wildfire Suppression markets
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Since our last offering, Parallel Flight has reached multiple milestones:
We have designed the new hybrid power modules and airframe for the beta-level aircraft and have been testing for several months.
Under a NASA grant, we successfully completed the development of a redundancy system that will provide a safety advantage over other technologies.
Under an NSF grant, we have developed computer models of our aircraft system to validate control algorithms.
We were awarded a grant from the USDA for the development of a large-scale platform for controlled ignition (preventative burns and firebreak burns).
We filed two additional provisional patent applications for our key algorithms and the safety mechanism developed under NASA.
*Actual Product - Not A Model
the problem
Electric drones can only fly for fifteen minutes when carrying a heavy payload. Existing gas-powered drones have the ability to fly longer, but can’t carry heavy payloads. Ongoing and dangerous problems, like the wildfire crisis, could seriously benefit from the use of drones, but need long flight-time and heavy-lift. The Forest Service, military, and private companies are actively looking for heavy lift solutions for wildfire and other applications, but the existing solutions are too limited in terms of flight duration and payload.
the solution
Our new Parallel Hybrid technology is a 10X improvement over existing solutions in terms of flight-time with a heavy payload. Our Parallel Hybrid system increases efficiency and eliminates a heavy generator component used in other hybrids. This means higher efficiency and more payload capability. Parallel hybridization is used in the automotive world, but has never been applied to drones, until now.
*Actual Product - Not A Model
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the market
The market for wildland firefighting is $10B in the USA, Canada, and Australia and is growing by around 10% per year.[1] The healthcare logistics sector is estimated to reach $20B by 2025 and the industrial logistics market should reach $65B by 2025.[2] Our technology will have important verticals in all of these markets. It will enable heavy lift and long-range beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) applications across multiple industrial logistics verticals, providing advanced solutions for infrastructure, renewable energy, construction, environmental protection, and remote logistics. In the complex healthcare logistics space, our technology will be ideal for the delivery of critical medication, vaccines, medical equipment, biospecimens, and defibrillators. By partnering with companies across various industries, Parallel Flight can provide full-stack solutions to multiple worldwide markets.
Our initial market is wildland firefighting support. Wildfires are an urgent public safety crisis that has been exacerbated by environmental problems. Every year, thousands become victims of wildfires and there is a constant search for new technology that will help combat these fires. Our drone technology will help firefighters by bringing them supplies such as tools, fuel, food, water, etc. while they are in the field. It will also be able to perform controlled burns, which is an important tool for fighting wildfires. Our aircraft will also be able directly drop water on spot fires when manned aircraft are grounded due to heavy smoke or during the night.
.Bringing tools, such as chainsaws, to firefighters in the field can save time so they don't have to hike back to basecamp.
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Our unmanned aircraft can fly the equipment to a drop point.
Our traction
Parallel Flight is on the cusp on commercialization. Our beta pipeline has multiple customers worldwide, with aircraft deliveries planned to begin in mid 2021. Applications for our first customers include wildfire applications, powerline construction, and heavy sensor payloads.
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In addition to private customers, we have received grants from NASA, NSF, and most recently from the USDA. This latest grant is for us to begin developing a large scale unmanned system for controlled ignition. This is a key land management tool for removing combustible fuels and preventing wildfires. It is also used for fighting wildfires by creating fire breaks. The US spends hundreds of millions each year on controlled burns. Several pilots have tragically died over the years in these missions, so the agencies are beginning to use drones, but they need aircraft with larger payloads and longer flight times.
Parallel Flight is developing a large-scale controlled burn platform in partnership with Drone Amplified through funding from the USDA.
Our beta-level aircraft is now under construction at PFT
Our product has evolved from a prototype to a production-intent aircraft featuring:
Compact Hybrid Power Module Design
Large Cargo Volume
Lightweight Carbon Fiber Body
Shock Absorbing Landing Gear
All-Weather Flight Capability
The target maximum payload for our beta level aircraft is 100 lbs, not including fuel.
*Actual Product - Not A Model
Planned Quotation on StartEngine Secondary
Parallel Flight Technologies’ Regulation A+ investors may soon have the ability to sell or trade their shares through StartEngine Secondary. StartEngine Secondary provides a potential alternative to waiting for a liquidity event, such as an acquisition or IPO, giving investors the option to trade available shares in a company with other investors. The exact date for our quotation is not yet determined, as our current Regulation A+ offering is still active. Our upcoming quotation with StartEngine Secondary is planning to undergo the diligence process for quotation once our Regulation A+ campaign is concluded.
WHILE THE COMPANY HAS SIGNED A QUOTATION AGREEMENT TO TRADE THE SECURITIES OFFERED ON STARTENGINE SECONDARY’S NEW ALTERNATIVE TRADING SYSTEM (THE “ATS”), A COMPANY WHICH INTENDS TO BE QUOTED ON THE MARKETPLACE WILL BE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS WHICH THE COMPANY MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SATISFY IN A TIMELY MANNER. EVEN IF A COMPANY IS QUALIFIED TO QUOTE ITS SECURITIES ON THE MARKET, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE AN ACTIVE TRADING MARKET FOR THE SECURITIES WILL EVER DEVELOP, OR IF DEVELOPED, BE MAINTAINED. YOU SHOULD ASSUME THAT YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO LIQUIDATE YOUR INVESTMENT FOR SOME TIME OR BE ABLE TO PLEDGE THESE SHARES AS COLLATERAL.
what we do
Our heavy-lift unmanned aircraft are programmed from a ground station, and then autonomously perform the mission. The aircraft can also be remote-controlled by a pilot. Because our technology greatly expands the flight-time and payload capability of drones, there are many use-cases including firefighting, agriculture, search-and-rescue, medical delivery, and logistics. Performing these missions autonomously will increase safety and reduce cost.
The Business model
Parallel Flight plans to make money by selling full-stack unmanned aircraft solutions, service plans, operator training, and non-recurring engineering. Our initial target customers are federal, state, and municipal agencies tasked with wildland firefighting, private contractors that provide wildfire services, and customers from other industries. Aircraft purchased outright will have a service plan associated with the aircraft. In addition to aircraft sales, customers can also contract aircraft on an Exclusive Use or Call When Needed basis. Both the aircraft sales (with service contract) and contract models are planned sources of recurring revenue for Parallel Flight.
*Actual Product - Not A Model
In 2020, we completed the NSF's Innovation Corps (I-Corps™) program. This allowed us to connect with potential customers worldwide to better understand the scalability of our product and the potential of our customer base. We continue to integrate the feedback received through this program into our development strategy, and we have seen strong customer traction as a result.
How we are different
Our systems are designed around heavy lift applications which go beyond carrying sensors. One of our greatest advantages is flight time while carrying a heavy payload. Most other drones can fly for 15 minutes with a heavy load; we can fly for hours. We expect our platform will also be less expensive than all-electric drones because of the large number of batteries they have to carry. Often users of all-electric platforms buy multiple battery sets, expensive charging systems, and generators, but our customers will not incur these costs.
the vision
In three years, our goal is to be the premier supplier of heavy-lift unmanned systems for heavy-lift public safety applications, such as firefighting and search-and-rescue. We will also have pilot programs underway for adjacent markets such as ship-to-shore, remote logistics, and agriculture. In the future we plan on scaling our technology for the Urban Air Mobility market for applications such as air ambulances.
Our Leadership
CEO and co-founder Joshua Resnick led system architecture and electrical engineering for the Tesla Semi Truck program. Before moving to California, he led research for the State of Alaska developing hybrid commercial fishing boat technology. He has been building and flying RC planes and helicopters since he was 13. Our founding team has core competencies in the key areas of hybrid powertrains, drone operations, control theory, machine vision, and robotics. We bring experience from Tesla, Verb Surgical, and the Navy. We have brought in advisors related to our market, business development, and strategy.
Dear Investor,
I am striving to build a company that reflects the values that my co-founders and I hold dear. We will do this by applying our technology to use-cases that save lives, property, and the environment.
Lives
Whether it is making firefighting safer and more effective, delivering supplies after a natural disaster, performing search and rescue, or bringing medical supplies to a remote village, our technology can be used to save lives in life or death situations.
Property
As I write this letter, I am evacuated with my family, and firefighters on the CZU Complex fire are fighting to save my home and community. Over the past twenty years, wildfires have been getting steadily worse, but 2017 was a tipping point with the devastating fires in Santa Rosa and Ventura, CA. Then the 2018 fire season came. The Camp Fire destroyed the entire town of Paradise, CA - it killed 86 people and destroyed 18,804 structures. There was also the Mendicino Complex fire which burned almost half a million acres. In 2020, the August Lightning Complex fires burned more than 3 million acres in Northern California - the worst wildfires in the state’s history. This is not to mention the massive wildfires in Greece, Alaska, Australia and the Amazon. Parallel Flight Technologies is committed to developing new solutions to this worldwide problem.
Environment
Ok, I admit it. I am green at heart! That's why I spent 5 years developing energy efficient power systems for fishing boats in Alaska, and why I joined Tesla in 2015 to lead the electrical engineering efforts for the Tesla semi truck. One of my core values is building technologies that reduce carbon emissions. So, why am I building a hybrid aircraft? Doesn't hybrid still mean petrol powered? In the case of firefighting, gasoline is the best option because it is already part of the firefighting supply chain. However, I am committed to carbon neutral fuels for all applications that are not life-critical.
I hope you will join us on this exciting journey to save lives, property, and the environment!
Sincerely,
Joshua Resnick, CEO - Parallel Flight Technologies
Why invest
In a short time period, we have already created new technology and a working prototype. Our technology has expanded the performance envelope beyond the capability of competitive technologies. Because of this, we were awarded a NASA SBIR, Phase 1 grant and used this funding to continue prototype development. We have also received funding from NSF and the USDA for the development of our technology. PFT has one patent pending and two provisional patents around its core technology.
Building new technology is hard. But getting that technology deployed in the field is harder. At Parallel Flight Technologies, we are passionate about getting the word out to customers and the community about our technology and mission. We are also dedicated to learning from our customers about their pain points and discovering how we can help.
We deeply value community involvement and support. We have been overwhelmed by the response from our family, friends, and community. At speaking events, conferences, or just in conversation, people have shown tremendous support for our company and mission.
AN OFFERING STATEMENT REGARDING THIS OFFERING HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE SEC. THE SEC HAS QUALIFIED THAT OFFERING STATEMENT, WHICH ONLY MEANS THAT THE COMPANY MAY MAKE SALES OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED BY THE OFFERING STATEMENT. IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE SEC HAS APPROVED, PASSED UPON THE MERITS OR PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE INFORMATION IN THE OFFERING STATEMENT.
THE OFFERING CIRCULAR THAT IS PART OF THAT OFFERING STATEMENT CAN BE FOUND HERE.
THE OFFERING MATERIALS MAY CONTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION RELATING TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE COMPANY, ITS BUSINESS PLAN AND STRATEGY, AND ITS INDUSTRY. THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE BASED ON THE BELIEFS OF, ASSUMPTIONS MADE BY, AND INFORMATION CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO THE COMPANY’S MANAGEMENT. WHEN USED IN THE OFFERING MATERIALS, THE WORDS “ESTIMATE,” “PROJECT,” “BELIEVE,” “ANTICIPATE,” “INTEND,” “EXPECT” AND SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS ARE INTENDED TO IDENTIFY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, WHICH CONSTITUTE FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS. THESE STATEMENTS REFLECT MANAGEMENT’S CURRENT VIEWS WITH RESPECT TO FUTURE EVENTS AND ARE SUBJECT TO RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES THAT COULD CAUSE THE COMPANY’S ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE CONTAINED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. INVESTORS ARE CAUTIONED NOT TO PLACE UNDUE RELIANCE ON THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, WHICH SPEAK ONLY AS OF THE DATE ON WHICH THEY ARE MADE. THE COMPANY DOES NOT UNDERTAKE ANY OBLIGATION TO REVISE OR UPDATE THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS TO REFLECT EVENTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES AFTER SUCH DATE OR TO REFLECT THE OCCURRENCE OF UNANTICIPATED EVENTS.
WHILE THE COMPANY HAS SIGNED A QUOTATION AGREEMENT TO TRADE THE SECURITIES OFFERED ON STARTENGINE SECONDARY’S NEW ALTERNATIVE TRADING SYSTEM (THE “ATS”), A COMPANY WHICH INTENDS TO BE QUOTED ON THE MARKETPLACE WILL BE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS WHICH THE COMPANY MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SATISFY IN A TIMELY MANNER. EVEN IF A COMPANY IS QUALIFIED TO QUOTE ITS SECURITIES ON THE MARKET, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE AN ACTIVE TRADING MARKET FOR THE SECURITIES WILL EVER DEVELOP, OR IF DEVELOPED, BE MAINTAINED. YOU SHOULD ASSUME THAT YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO LIQUIDATE YOUR INVESTMENT FOR SOME TIME OR BE ABLE TO PLEDGE THESE SHARES AS COLLATERAL.
How Will Extended Flight Time for Drones be Powered?
2019 Monterey Bay DART Symposium Highlights Reel
2018 Main Division Winners
Parallel Flight Technology Has Lift Off!
Parallel Flight Technologies’ Hybrid Technology Helps Heavy Lift Multirotors Go the Distance
Parallel Flight Technology’s next drone model will be able to carry 100 pounds for hours
Weighty Matters
#ParallelFlight autonomous flight dynamics testing with a 50lbs payload. This payload is a 5 gallon 'cubi' of drinking water, used by wildland firefighters.
#UAS #heavylift #drones
Stay tuned and be sure to follow #PFT on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates!
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USDA SBIR Phase 2 Award Progress
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Taking a 360° Parallel Flight
This video highlights a typical day in the testing field, showcasing a 360° view from atop of a Parallel Flight drone. In this clip, the Flight Controls team tunes our electric test aircraft, for 50 pounds of payload using 200 feet of fire hose.
StartEngine Secondary - Now Live!
Investors in Parallel Flight Technologies' Reg A campaign now have the ability to trade their shares through StartEngine Secondary, one of the first markets in the US where non-accredited investors can publicly trade investments in startups that have raised capital via crowdfunding.
We will be closing our Secondary trading by the end of the year - more information on a final close date will be announced soon.
This quotation allows our Regulation A+ investors to sell or trade their shares in PFT. StartEngine Secondary provides an alternative to waiting for a liquidity event, such as an acquisition or IPO, giving investors the option to trade available shares in a company with other investors. Regulation A+ investors can offer their shares for sale on StartEngine Secondary and begin browsing, buying and trading shares online. For more information, please visit the detailed Secondary FAQ for Investors.
Community voting is now open for the 2022 South by Southwest® PanelPicker®, and we need your vote! This is an opportunity for PFT CEO Joshua Resnick and a panel of wildfire experts to present our game-changing drone technology at one of the world's most prominent tech and culture conferences.
If you'd like to see PFT on stage at SXSW 2022, then cast your vote for our idea: A Techno-Traditional Approach to the Wildfire Crisis.
Voting takes less than two minutes, and every vote counts! Simply create a SXSW account, log in, and click "Vote Up" on our proposal page.
Our proposal, "A Techno-Traditional Approach to the Wildfire Crisis," explores the ancient practice of prescribed fire and how advanced drone technology can be used to modernize this practice to help prevent catastrophic wildfires.
Help us share these insights on the SXSW stage by voting today! PanelPicker® voting is open through August 26th.
We're excited to announce that Parallel Flight Technologies has been awarded a Phase 2 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the USDA. The $650,000 grant was awarded to PFT and Drone Amplified, the developer of the IGNIS prescribed fire system, to support further development of a large-scale UAS for prescribed fire.
This Phase 2 grant follows our recent completion of a Phase 1 grant that demonstrated successful integration of PFT’s heavy-lift aircraft and Drone Amplified’s IGNIS system. The goal for the Phase 2 grant work is to deliver this large-scale unmanned prescribed fire solution based on our parallel hybrid technology for use by the US Forest Service and other agencies. Our research indicates that this UAS will have eight times the payload carrying capacity of the existing solution as well as ten times the flight duration, resulting in more acres managed by prescribed fire at a lower cost and with increased safety for personnel. It will also provide more effective prescribed fire during active wildfires.
We're excited to continue our research and development under this USDA grant and ultimately deliver an advanced solution for wildfire prevention and land management.
Parallel Flight Technologies will be exhibiting at AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2021, taking place August 16-19 in Atlanta. Visit us at Booth #2201 to meet our team and see our Firefly aircraft in person!
We hope to see you there!
Dear Investors,
That's a wrap! Our Regulation A+ offering officially closed on Wednesday, with more than $6.5M raised. On behalf of myself and the entire team here at Parallel Flight, I want to thank each and every one of you for your support throughout this campaign.
To our 4,776 new investors - Welcome to the Parallel Flight family! Here are some things you need to know:
Verifying your investment status: It may take a few weeks for PFT to receive the full list of new Reg A investors, so we encourage you to verify your investment status by logging into StartEngine's investment dashboard. If you have any questions about your investment, please visit StartEngine's FAQ page or contact their support team at contact@startengine.com.
Staying up-to-date with PFT: If you aren’t already signed up for our email list, please subscribe to receive the latest updates from The Hive. You can also follow our social channels via the links below or login to the Investor Portal on our website to view quarterly investor updates and FAQs.
Getting your PFT gear: For those of you who invested $1K or more, your gear is coming soon! Please be patient with our small team as we work to pack and ship t-shirts and hats to thousands of you.
Contacting our team: If you have questions for me or one of my team members, please email us at invest@parallelflight.com and we will reply as soon as possible.
Thank you again for supporting us throughout our most ambitious crowdfunding campaign to date. You have helped bring us one step closer to delivering unmanned systems to save lives, property, and the environment.
Cheers,
Joshua Resnick, CEO
Parallel Flight Technologies' Regulation A+ Offering will close tonight at midnight!
Don't miss your opportunity to be an early-stage investor in our game-changing drone technology!
This investment is speculative, illiquid, and involves a high degree of risk, including the possible loss of your entire investment.
PFT Advisors Visit African Countries with a Goal of Securing Contracts
Parallel Flight Technologies advisors recently toured four African countries with a goal of securing contracts for industrial logistics and other delivery applications. Our team is now engaged in advanced negotiations with these potential customers who are interested in utilizing our heavy-lift drone for logistics, medical deliveries and agriculture.
In addition to these exciting contract negotiations, Parallel Flight Technologies has achieved substantial company milestones throughout the course of our Regulation A+ offering.
Since opening our Reg A round in September, we have:
Completed construction of our first commercial-intent drone, Firefly, and began advanced flight testing with the aircraft
Received 30 signed letters of intent from potential customers
Completed grant work for the NSF and USDA
Hired 10 full time employees and added 3 industry experts to our advisory board
Met with government leaders in the US and abroad to discuss the potential for our heavy-lift drone technology
Became an official partner of the Alaska Center for UAS Integration (ACUASI), a Lead Participant in the Federal Aviation Administration’s BEYOND program, allowing us to demonstrate missions for the BEYOND program
Formed commercial partnerships with industry leaders
Signed to trade on StartEngine Secondary
And raised millions from investors like you!
Now, we're hours away from wrapping up our most ambitious crowdfunding campaign to date! We look forward to achieving even more in the coming months with the support of our 4,000+ new investors.
If you haven't invested in our Regulation A+ offering, now is the time. Make your investment now before our round closes in a few hours!
This investment is speculative, illiquid, and involves a high degree of risk, including the possible loss of your entire investment.
While the company has signed a quotation agreement to trade the securities offered on StartEngine Secondary’s new alternative trading system (the “ATS”), a company which intends to be quoted on the marketplace will be subject to certain requirements which the company may or may not be able to satisfy in a timely manner. Even if a company is qualified to quote its securities on the market, there is no guarantee an active trading market for the securities will ever develop, or if developed, be maintained. You should assume that you may not be able to liquidate your investment for some time or be able to pledge these shares as collateral.
Hey everyone,
The final hours of our Reg A offering are finally here! I wanted to send you all a quick video message to say thank you for following along throughout this journey.
The past eight months have been truly incredible for Parallel Flight. We introduced our first commercial-intent drone, Firefly, and completed hours of flight testing with the aircraft. We grew our customer pipeline and now have 30 signed letters of intent from potential customers. We're now preparing to bring this new parallel hybrid aircraft to the market, and we believe our technology has the potential to revolutionize the drone industry on a global scale.
Thank you, again, for supporting Parallel Flight throughout this campaign. If you've been waiting for the right time to invest - the time is now! Our Reg A offering closes tomorrow at midnight, so don't miss your opportunity to invest in the future of drone technology.
Cheers,
Joshua Resnick, CEO
This investment is speculative, illiquid, and involves a high degree of risk, including the possible loss of your entire investment.
Parallel Flight Receives its 30th Signed LOI
Our customer pipeline continues to grow!
PFT has received 30 signed letters of intent from potential customers who are interested in purchasing more than 200 aircraft over the next three years, making our customer pipeline worth over $75 million.
We believe there are endless possibilities for our groundbreaking technology, and we hope you’ll join us in our mission to deliver unmanned systems to save lives, property and the environment.
Our Regulation A+ Offering closes in just two days, so don’t miss your chance to invest!
This investment is speculative, illiquid, and involves a high degree of risk, including the possible loss of your entire investment.
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