Pendleton UAS Test Range

05/14/2026

Please join us next week for a free 5-day and a 3-day workshop in Pendleton, OR! No experience necessary.

Location: Pendleton UAS Range (Pendleton, Oregon)
Dates: May 18–May 27, 2026 | 8am – 4:30pm

Workshops
• May 18–May 22: Drone Flight School (5-day workshop)
• May 25–May 27: UAV Mapping & Modeling (3-day workshop)

What You’ll Gain
• Practical drone flight experience
• UAV mapping and 3D modeling skills
• Career-ready knowledge employers are actively seeking

Seats are limited! Reserve your spot now and take your first (or next) step toward upskilling or reskilling to be a drone expert. Must be 18 or over and an Oregon resident.

Register today:
Drone Flight School: https://dronecenter.colostate.edu/osu/osu-drone-flight-school-may-2026/

UAV Mapping and Modeling: https://dronecenter.colostate.edu/osu/osu-mapping-modeling-late-may-2026/

More information: https://today.oregonstate.edu/all-stories/free-drone-classes-available-osu-spring-workforce-readiness-grant

05/13/2026

Pendleton’s story continues to grow.

We appreciate OPB highlighting how Pendleton transformed a WWII-era airport into one of the nation’s leading proving grounds for unmanned systems testing and innovation.

Read the full story here:

The Pendleton drone range is one of the nation’s most popular places to test drones. City officials are trying to turn that popularity into a surge of manufacturing jobs.

05/09/2026

04/27/2026

The Pendleton UAS Range was proud to host the 2026 AUVSI Cascade Chapter Spring Symposium Tech Showcase inside our B17 Hangar.

The event brought together many industry leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, suppliers, and other individuals in the UAS industry. It was incredible to see some of the latest advancements in the industry, including two separate test flights and a plethora of displays.

Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the event a success. Let us know what your favorite part of the event was down in the comments!

04/06/2026

Our team hosted the USDA Rural Development Director of State Operations, David Matthews, Oregon State Director James Carmack, and Idaho State Director Rick Youngblood for a visit to the range.

Led by Range Manager Jesse Steele, the conversation focused on what it actually takes to move unmanned systems forward.

Diverse environments. Purpose-built infrastructure. Access to approved airspace.

This is where systems are tested, validated, and proven.

Proven in Pendleton. Proven for America.

03/31/2026

Now Available: Official Pendleton UAS Range Gear

The Range Gear store is live.

Explore a full lineup of DRONETOWN, USA gear and Pendleton UAS Range apparel that's designed for the operators, engineers, and teams moving the industry forward. From hats and hoodies to shirts and more, this is gear that represents where programs are tested, validated, and proven.

Proven in Pendleton. Worn anywhere.

Explore Range Gear: https://www.pendletonuasrange.com/category/gear-store

Follow for upcoming drops and updates.

03/30/2026

Dispatch from DRONETOWN, USA.

Jesse Steele, Range Manager, shares what’s happening on the ground (and air), from Flex Hangar III and growing industry interest to what it takes to operate a leading proving ground for unmanned systems.

Listen to the full interview:

Pendleton UAS Test Range Manager Jesse Steele talks about the Dronetown, USA brand and the balance between testing high-tech with the small-town hospitality and transparency. Next, he talks about the Flex Hangar III and the types of companies showing interest. He also talks about what needs to be do...

03/11/2026

Innovators bring their most advanced technologies to Pendleton for one reason: this is America’s proving ground. This is where cutting-edge UAS systems are pushed, tested, and validated in real-world conditions before they deploy anywhere else.

Pendleton, Oregon is DRONETOWN, USA.

Proven In Pendleton. Proven For America. Learn more: www.dronetown-usa.com

02/14/2026

The City of Pendleton and Pendleton UAS Range gratefully extends its appreciation to Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden for securing $2 million in federal investment to support continued renovation of our historic B-17 Hangar.

Located at the Eastern Oregon Regional Airport at Pendleton, the B-17 Hangar was once home to Doolittle’s Raiders and Triple Nickle Smokejumpers. Today, it serves as the hub for unmanned systems testing and development in Oregon.

This Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) award will renovate approximately 4,000 square feet on the second story of the hangar, transforming currently unusable space into modern, ADA-compliant facilities that directly support the growing number of companies testing and operating at the range.

We thank Senators Merkley and Wyden for their unwavering support of the Pendleton UAS Range and the unmanned systems industry in Oregon.

02/11/2026

Pendleton, Oregon is DRONETOWN, USA.

Proven In Pendleton. Proven For America. Learn more: www.dronetown-usa.com