Bolder Flight Systems

What Bolder Flight Systems does

Bolder Flight Systems, Inc. is a privately held U.S. company that designs, manufactures, and sells flight control, inertial navigation, and data acquisition hardware and software for general aviation, UAS development, and aeronautics research. The product portfolio centers on three core lines: the OnFlight Hub portable flight data logger for general aviation pilots ($599 unit price, GPS-aided inertial navigation at 50 Hz, GDL90 streaming to ForeFlight and other apps); the FMU-R and Mini FMU-R flight management units for unmanned aircraft, featuring a hard real-time 100 Hz framerate with deterministic fixed-latency from sensing to actuator outputs and the SPAARO open-source flight software; and the PDAS portable data acquisition system for aeronautics research, sampling at 200 Hz with sub-degree INS accuracy. These are complemented by add-on modules (air data, GNSS, radio modems, breakout boards) and integration with Q Ground Control, Mission Planner, ACROWRX, FlySto, CloudAhoy, AviNet, ForeFlight, IADS, and VectorNav hardware.

The underlying technology centers on an ARM Cortex-M7 processor with double-precision FPU, an IMU data-ready interrupt-driven major frame, hardware timer triggering of actuator outputs, and the Eigen matrix math library, all coordinated through the SPAARO open-source software platform. A MATLAB Simulink digital twin enables model-based design and autocoded control law deployment. The company makes money through direct hardware sales (one product priced, others quote-based), professional services (custom design, commercialization, flight validation), and SBIR grant participation as prime or sub contractor with NASA and DoD. All design, manufacturing, and assembly is conducted in the United States, positioning the company to benefit from FY2025 NDAA domestic-sourcing provisions for UAS autonomy solutions.

Bolder Flight Systems was founded by Brian Taylor (formerly NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center and Director of the University of Minnesota UAS Research Labs) and is led with COO Melissa Iszler. The company is small (1-10 employees), headquarted in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and in January 2026 announced a strategic partnership with Systems Technology, Inc. to co-develop fully U.S.-manufactured autopilot systems for UAS, signaling a push into defense and commercial UAS autonomy contracts.

Name

Bolder Flight Systems

Legal name

Bolder Flight Systems, Inc.

Website

https://bolderflight.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bolder Flight Systems designs and manufactures Made-in-USA flight control, inertial navigation, and data acquisition systems for general aviation pilots, UAS developers, and aeronautics research institutions, including the OnFlight Hub data logger, FMU-R flight management unit, and PDAS data acquisition system.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Avionics and Flight Control Systems

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMABAFAA

Flight Control Computers & Autopilot Systems

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing/Avionics, Navigation & Flight Control Systems

SECONDARYIMABAFAK

Avionics Software, Certification & Safety-Critical Systems (DO-178/DO-254)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing/Avionics, Navigation & Flight Control Systems

SECONDARYIMABAFAO

Autonomous Flight Control & Guidance Systems (UAS/Urban Air Mobility)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing/Avionics, Navigation & Flight Control Systems

SECONDARYIMABAMAE

Military Avionics, Mission Computers & Flight Controls

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing/Military Aerospace Manufacturing

Keywords

• Flight control systems
• Data acquisition systems
• Inertial navigation systems
• Unmanned aircraft systems
• General aviation avionics

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Fe

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Hardware Product Sales: Sale of flight control hardware including FMU-R flight management units, OnFlight Hub data loggers, and PDAS portable data acquisition systems. Products are sold directly to customers with pricing available for consumer products and quote-based for research/enterprise products.
2. Professional Services: Custom design, manufacturing, and flight validation services. Includes customization of flight control or data acquisition systems, commercialization support, and flight test support for manned and unmanned aircraft.
3. SBIR Grant Participation: Participation in NASA and DoD Small Business Innovative Research grants as prime and sub contractors for research and development projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Bolder Flight Systems designs, manufactures, and sells embedded flight control, inertial navigation, and data acquisition hardware for manned and unmanned aircraft. The portfolio includes the OnFlight Hub consumer flight data logger, the FMU-R and Mini FMU-R UAS flight management units powered by the open-source SPAARO software platform, and the PDAS portable high-accuracy data acquisition system, all supported by in-house engineering services for customization, commercialization, and flight validation.

Product overview

Bolder Flight Systems offers a portfolio of flight control and data acquisition products for general aviation, research institutions, and UAS development. The core product line includes OnFlight Hub (a portable flight data logger for general aviation pilots at $599), FMU-R and Mini FMU-R (UAS flight management units with MATLAB Simulink integration for research and autonomous aircraft), and PDAS (Portable Data Acquisition System for aeronautics research). These are complemented by optional add-on modules including air data sensors, GNSS receivers, radio modems, and breakout boards. The SPAARO open-source flight software platform powers the FMU-R products, handling sensor I/O, state estimation, and control law execution at deterministic 100 Hz. Supporting services include system customization, commercialization support, flight validation testing, and SBIR research and development participation. All products are designed, manufactured, and assembled in the United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• OnFlight Hub A premier, high-quality portable flight data logger for general aviation pilots that captures attitude, heading, position, speed, and sensor data at 50 samples per second with GPS-aided inertial navigation, and streams real-time data via GDL90 to compatible apps such as ForeFlight. Targets student pilots, CFIs, backcountry, aerobatic, ultralight, and experimental pilots as well as flight schools and rental operations.
• Flight Management Unit for Research (FMU-R)

Quantifiable outcome

• Pitch/Roll accuracy: 0.1 deg, Heading accuracy: 0.3 deg, Horizontal position accuracy: 8 ft
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Systems Technology, Inc. (STI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 January 2026Strategic partnership to co-develop advanced, fully U.S.-manufactured autopilot systems for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). BFS contributes flight control hardware and software while STI contributes aerospace guidance, navigation, and control expertise. Initial development focuses on integrated autopilot systems designed for deterministic real-time operation, simulation-driven engineering, and custom GNC development for commercial, defense, and research UAS applications.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SBG Systems: Manufacturer of MEMS-based inertial navigation systems and INS/GNSS for UAVs, mapping, and autonomous applications. Closely comparable to BFS's PDAS INS offering in accuracy class, sampling rates, and UAS research customer base.
• VectorNav Technologies: US-based manufacturer of high-precision inertial navigation systems and GNSS-aided INS for UAS and autonomous platforms. Directly comparable to BFS's PDAS and OnFlight Hub INS products in target customer (UAS integrators, researchers) and technology (GPS-aided inertial navigation).
• Advanced Navigation: Australian company producing inertial navigation, GNSS, and robotics sensing for UAS and autonomous platforms. Competes in the same high-precision INS hardware segment as BFS's PDAS and OnFlight Hub, particularly in research and commercial UAS markets.

Broad incumbents

• Garmin: Established general aviation avionics manufacturer with flight data logging, ADS-B, and integrated cockpit systems. Comparable at the general aviation pilot segment where BFS sells OnFlight Hub to flight schools, rental operators, and pilot training users.
• Collins Aerospace: Major avionics prime with flight controls, navigation, and mission systems across commercial and military platforms. Comparable as a broad incumbent that can package competing UAS autonomy solutions under defense procurement programs.
• Honeywell Aerospace: Large incumbent avionics manufacturer offering flight management systems, autopilots, and inertial navigation across commercial, business, and military aviation. Competes with BFS at the broader UAS/autonomy layer and could move into US-made UAS autopilot markets targeted by BFS.
• L3Harris Technologies: Defense prime with UAS platforms, autonomy stacks, and avionics for military and government customers. Comparable at the systems integration level and competes for the same DoD UAS autonomy programs that BFS's STI partnership targets.

Emerging players

• ArduPilot / PX4: Open-source autopilot software projects widely used in research and commercial UAS, with hardware partners including Pixhawk-based flight controllers. Comparable to BFS's open-source SPAARO positioning and Q Ground Control/Mission Planner integration ecosystem.
• Embention: Spanish developer of the Veronte autopilot and flight control systems for commercial and defense UAS. Comparable as a focused UAS autopilot specialist serving OEMs and integrators, overlapping with BFS's FMU-R customer segment.
• UAV Navigation: Specialized provider of flight control and navigation systems for professional UAS, with GNSS-aided INS products. Comparable in target market (UAS OEMs, integrators) and product category to BFS's FMU-R and PDAS.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• GitHubgithub.com/bolderflight
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bolder-flight-systems

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bolder Flight Systems