First in Flight, Innovation Limitless
NDAA-COMPLIANT AUTONOMOUS AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS
Advanced Autonomy | Extended Mission Capability | American-Made
Purpose-built platforms for research, defense, and operational missions. Professional systems starting at $165K. Advanced configurations available up to $950K. University programs receive preferential pricing.
Engineering the Next Generation of Unmanned Flight
Forge & Flight Labs is a North Carolina–based advanced fabrication and autonomous aircraft development studio dedicated to pushing the boundaries of modern aerospace engineering. Built at the intersection of additive manufacturing, autonomous systems, and production-ready aircraft design. We partner with academic, research, and industrial organizations to build next-generation aerospace systems.
Inspired by the innovative legacy of the Wright Brothers and North Carolina’s aviation heritage, we’re committed to designing the aircraft of tomorrow—crafted with precision, engineered for performance, and validated in real-world conditions.
OUR AIRCRAFT PLATFORMS
Three platform families spanning entry-level research to heavy operational ISR.
Each available in VTOL and Fixed-Wing configurations.
All include complete NDAA compliance, ground control station, operator training, and technical support.
University Discounts Available: Qualifying educational institutions receive significant discounts
AETHER-10 Series
Entry-Level Electric Platform
KEY FEATURES:
- Extended multi-hour flight endurance
- 4-8kg payload capacity
- Limited autonomy
IDEAL FOR: Research institutions | Environmental monitoring | Agricultural analysis | Professional training programs
CONFIGURATIONS:
- VTOL: Vertical takeoff
- Fixed-Wing
STARTING AT: $165,000
VANGUARD-14 Series
Advanced AI-Enabled Platform
KEY FEATURES:
- Best-in-class extended flight endurance
- 6-10kg payload capacity
- Advanced AI-enabled autonomy
IDEAL FOR: AI and autonomy research | Advanced ISR applications | Institutional research programs | Professional surveillance missions
CONFIGURATIONS:
- VTOL: Vertical takeoff
- Fixed-Wing
STARTING AT: $295,000
TITAN-20 Series
Heavy Payload Flagship
KEY FEATURES:
- Maximum endurance
- 25-30kg payload capacity
- Advanced AI-enabled autonomy
Organizations requiring heavy payload capacity | Long-endurance surveillance missions | Multi-sensor integration | Operational ISR deployments
CONFIGURATIONS:
- VTOL: Vertical takeoff
STARTING AT: $425,000
ENHANCE YOUR PLATFORM WITH PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
All platforms include basic operator orientation. Upgrade to comprehensive training packages:
- BASIC TRAINING: Fundamentals and Part 107 prep
- INTERMEDIATE TRAINING: Advanced operations and mission planning
- ADVANCED TRAINING: Complex missions and autonomous operations
ADDITIONAL OFFERINGS:
- Group 1 FPV Building Course with flight training
- NDAA-Compliant DIY Drone Building Packages
- Fabricator Kits (complete maintenance and building components) ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
All platforms include complete NDAA compliance, ground control station,
and technical support.
University Discounts Available: Qualifying educational institutions
receive significant discounts on platforms and training.
Integrated Excellence
What Sets Us Apart
Rooted in the birthplace of modern flight, Forge & Flight Labs carries forward North Carolina’s long-standing aviation heritage. Our team blends:
- Advanced additive manufacturing expertise
- Hands-on aerospace science and prototyping experience
- FAA-certified remote pilot and manned aviation knowledge
This multidisciplinary foundation allows us to bridge the critical gap between digital design and real-world operational performance. We not only engineer precise airframes—we understand how environmental conditions, aerodynamic behavior, materials science, and operational requirements shape each aircraft’s behavior in flight.
Our integrated workflow unites:
Concept → CAD Modeling → Prototyping → Flight Testing → Field Deployment
This ensures faster development timelines, improved reliability, and platforms purpose-built for specific operational needs.
Whether you’re developing new research platforms, building advanced autonomous aircraft capabilities, or exploring next-generation aerial systems, we provide the engineering rigor, technical insight, and operational expertise to make it possible.
Contact Us
Hours of Operation
Monday–Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST
Saturday: By appointment