Roswell Flight Test Crew
Roswell Flight Test Crew is a privately-held Oregon-based drone services firm providing flight operations, consulting, product testing, brand-awareness, and video production for first responders, industrial firms, government agencies, and sUAS manufacturers since 2010.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersBurlington, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Roswell Flight Test Crew does
Roswell Flight Test Crew is a privately-held drone services company founded in 2010 by Patrick Sherman and headquartered in Oregon, USA. The firm operates a portfolio of five professional service lines — Flight Operations, Drone Consulting, Product Testing, Brand Awareness, and Video Production — delivered to first responders and government agencies, industrial/enterprise firms (wind, flare stack, and power-line inspection), sUAS manufacturers, and environmental/scientific organizations. Technical capability centers on the operation of commercial drones equipped with FLIR thermal imaging cameras, with documented applications in structural firefighting, emergency response, industrial inspection, and habitat restoration (locating cold-water seeps for endangered brook trout in West Virginia).
The business model is project-based professional services revenue, with all engagements priced via custom quotes and no publicly disclosed tiers or rates. Go-to-market is expert-led and content-driven: Sherman maintains a YouTube channel exceeding 22,000 subscribers and 4.3 million views, has authored 100+ articles in leading drone trade publications (Drone360, RotorDrone, Drones, Model Aviation, Drone UK), and speaks regularly at CES, InterDrone, AUVSI Xponential, and international venues including Drones Oman and a factory visit to MicroMultiCopter in Shenzhen. Sponsorship arrangements with FLIR, the Academy of Model Aeronautics, SOAR Oregon, Go Professional Cases, and K&L General Contracting supplement direct service revenue and provide equipment for testing and demonstration. The company holds an exclusive consulting partnership with Brown Unmanned Aerial Solutions, including a project with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
Operationally, RFTC is a founder-led micro-firm with no disclosed headcount beyond Sherman and recruit pilot Lori Brown, no external funding, no parent company, and no subsidiaries. Its competitive position rests on early-mover experience (flying drones since 2010, before commercial demand existed), proprietary thermal-imaging know-how developed since 2012, and personal brand authority — Sherman is known globally within the drone community as "Lucidity." Founding-membership roles on the AMA sUAS Task Force, Oregon State Drone Working Group, and AUVSI Cascade Chapter Board reinforce an ecosystem positioning, though revenue scale, financial trajectory, and AI/technology depth are not disclosed.
Roswell Flight Test Crew firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Roswell Flight Test Crew
- Legal name
- Roswell Flight Test Crew
- Website
- https://roswellflighttestcrew.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Roswell Flight Test Crew is a privately-held Oregon-based drone services firm providing flight operations, consulting, product testing, brand-awareness, and video production for first responders, industrial firms, government agencies, and sUAS manufacturers since 2010.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Roswell Flight Test Crew industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Drone Services
- NAICS
- Testing Laboratories and Services (541380)
- SIC
- Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Aviation Pilot & Crew Staffing/Training Services (THABAFAJ)
Keywords
Where Roswell Flight Test Crew is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Burlington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Roswell Flight Test Crew business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Flight Operations: Contract drone operations for specific projects including aerial videography, site surveys, environmental monitoring, and industrial applications. Pricing based on unique project needs.
- Drone Consulting: Expert consultation services to help enterprises develop drone programs, assess capabilities and limitations, and make informed implementation decisions. Includes regulatory, financial, and technical assessment.
- Product Testing and Demonstration: Testing and demonstrating new drone systems and applications for manufacturers, providing feedback and sharing results through YouTube and industry publications.
- Brand Awareness Services: Sponsorship arrangements and promotional content creation for drone industry brands, positioning trusted expert endorsements to reach wider audiences.
- Video Production: Full production services from concept to finished edit, including non-aerial productions. Sample work includes documentary film 'Stewards of Shaver's Fork' featured on public television.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom project-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Roswell Flight Test Crew product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Roswell Flight Test Crew is a drone services company that provides FAA-licensed pilots and registered commercial aircraft for flight operations, expert consulting to develop drone programs, product testing and demonstration for drone manufacturers, brand awareness marketing for industry sponsors, and full-service video production including aerial cinematography. Services are delivered on a quote-based basis to private companies, government agencies, and industry brands across public safety, industrial inspection, and environmental monitoring applications.
Product overview
Roswell Flight Test Crew is a drone services company offering a portfolio of interconnected services for the drone industry. The core offerings include Flight Operations (professional pilots and aircraft for hire), Drone Consulting (advisory and assessment services), Product Testing (testing and demonstrating new drone technology), Brand Awareness (marketing and promotion services for industry brands), and Video Production (full-service video production including aerial work). These services are designed to serve private companies and government agencies seeking drone-related expertise, from specific project needs to ongoing program development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Flight Operations Professional drone flight operations service providing FAA-licensed pilots and registered commercial aircraft for aerial video, site surveys, environmental monitoring, and industrial applications. Quote-based pricing reflects unique project needs.
- Drone Consulting Expert consultation services for organizations developing drone programs, covering regulatory compliance, technical assessment, financial considerations, and implementation strategy. Includes independent third-party program assessments.
- Product Testing Testing and demonstration of new drone systems and novel applications across public safety, industrial inspection, and environmental protection sectors for manufacturers. Includes ground-breaking work in thermal imaging, emergency response, and habitat restoration.
- Brand Awareness Marketing and promotional services for drone industry brands through sponsorship relationships, product testing demonstrations, and media coverage in publications including Drone360, RotorDrone, Drones, Model Aviation, and Drone magazine UK.
- Video Production Full-service video production from scriptwriting to finished edit, including aerial cinematography, documentary production, product unboxing and setup videos, and non-aerial productions. Sample work includes documentary film 'Stewards of Shaver's Fork' featured on public television.
Quantifiable outcome
- Drones can operate in challenging high-wind industrial environments and gather valuable information for wind turbine inspection
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Roswell Flight Test Crew
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Roswell Flight Test Crew technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Roswell Flight Test Crew partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Brown Unmanned Aerial SolutionsflagshipExclusive partnership for consulting engagements including NASA Goddard Space Flight Center project. BrownUAS performed independent industry assessment as unbiased third party while RFTC provided insights on program review and optimization. This partnership represents the company's flagship consulting approach.
- FLIRcoreOngoing sponsorship and partnership with FLIR for thermal imaging drone applications. Patrick Sherman began pioneering work using FLIR thermal cameras with drones in 2012. FLIR provides sponsorship and products for testing and demonstration. The crew promotes FLIR products through reviews, demonstrations, and industry publications.
- Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA)corePatrick Sherman is a founding member of AMA's sUAS Task Force. AMA provides sponsorship and support. The crew receives sponsorship from AMA and promotes safe drone operation aligned with AMA guidelines.
- SOAR OregoncoreSponsor and partner organization. Listed among the company's proud sponsors supporting the Roswell Flight Test Crew mission.
- Go Professional CasesminorListed as sponsor on the Roswell Flight Test Crew website, providing professional equipment cases for drone gear.
- K&L General ContractingminorListed as sponsor on the Roswell Flight Test Crew website.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Roswell Flight Test Crew competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- PrecisionHawk: Commercial drone services and data analytics company serving industrial inspection, agriculture, and public safety markets. Comparable as a drone services provider with thermal imaging and aerial inspection capabilities, though operating at a larger enterprise scale.
- Measure (now part of Drone Industry Insights network of providers): Drone services marketplace and managed services provider offering enterprise drone program solutions, inspection, and consulting. Directly comparable as a drone services and consulting firm targeting industrial and enterprise customers.
- Cyberhawk Innovations: Drone-based inspection and visual data management services for oil and gas, utilities, and infrastructure. Comparable as a specialist drone inspection provider with thermal imaging and industrial inspection focus.
- Sharper Shape: Drone-based inspection services for utilities and infrastructure, including power line and asset inspection with thermal capabilities. Comparable industrial drone inspection peer serving similar enterprise verticals.
Broad incumbents
- FLIR Systems: Major thermal imaging equipment manufacturer and RFTC's core partner since 2012. Comparable as the underlying technology provider whose thermal cameras RFTC uses and demonstrates in firefighting and inspection applications.
- DJI: World's largest commercial drone manufacturer. Comparable as the dominant drone hardware supplier whose products RFTC reviews and demonstrates on its YouTube channel and through testing engagements.
- Insitu (Boeing): Boeing subsidiary providing drone-based services and platforms for defense, commercial, and government customers. Comparable as a larger, established drone services provider serving government and industrial markets.
Emerging players
- Skyward (Verizon): Drone operations management platform acquired by Verizon. Tangentially comparable as a drone program management and consulting resource serving enterprise customers building drone programs.
Others
- Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA): National association for model aircraft and drone operators, and a longtime sponsor of RFTC. Comparable as a drone community and education partner, though AMA operates as a nonprofit membership organization rather than a competing service provider.
- AUVSI (Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International): Industry trade association for unmanned systems and robotics, where founder Patrick Sherman is active on the Cascade Chapter Board. Comparable as an ecosystem partner and event organizer, not a direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Roswell Flight Test Crew social profiles
Digital presenceRoswell Flight Test Crew financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Roswell Flight Test Crew leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Roswell Flight Test Crew funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Roswell Flight Test Crew M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Roswell Flight Test Crew
What does Roswell Flight Test Crew do?
Roswell Flight Test Crew is a drone services company that provides FAA-licensed pilots and registered commercial aircraft for flight operations, expert consulting to develop drone programs, product testing and demonstration for drone manufacturers, brand awareness marketing for industry sponsors, and full-service video production including aerial cinematography. Services are delivered on a quote-based basis to private companies, government agencies, and industry brands across public safety, industrial inspection, and environmental monitoring applications.
Is Roswell Flight Test Crew a public or private company?
Roswell Flight Test Crew is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Roswell Flight Test Crew founded?
Roswell Flight Test Crew was founded in 2010.
Where is Roswell Flight Test Crew based?
Roswell Flight Test Crew is headquartered in Burlington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Roswell Flight Test Crew make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Flight Operations are the primary driver. The others are drone Consulting, product Testing and Demonstration, brand Awareness Services and video Production.
Who are Roswell Flight Test Crew's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are PrecisionHawk, Measure (now part of Drone Industry Insights network of providers), Cyberhawk Innovations and Sharper Shape. Broad incumbents are FLIR Systems, DJI and Insitu (Boeing). Skyward (Verizon) is listed as an emerging player. Others are Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) and AUVSI (Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International).
Does Roswell Flight Test Crew have an API?
No public API is recorded for Roswell Flight Test Crew.
What industry is Roswell Flight Test Crew in?
Roswell Flight Test Crew's product category is Commercial Drone Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THABAFAJ, Private Aviation Pilot & Crew Staffing/Training Services. Its NAICS code is 541380 and its SIC code is 8734.