– Silvus Technologies, Inc., a global supplier of advanced wireless networking communications, has announced the launch of its latest innovation – the DualStream PTT Controller – at Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week 2025 in Tampa, Florida. Designed for the connected operator, the DualStream PTT Controller streamlines tactical communications, enhancing situational awareness in the most demanding […]
Last week, we answered a reader question about buying drones in-person. That reader was looking for a place to buy a drone in Mississippi. But if you’re in New York City this summer, then there’s no better place to go than the BILD Expo 2025.
BILD Expo — the brainchild of New York retail giant B&H Photo — stands out as a rare success story in the world of in-person creative gatherings. Its part-conference, part-party, and it’s a place to get your hands on the latest gear. That’s because BILD Expo 2025 is set to return bigger than ever as a must-attend event for drone photographers.
BILD Expo 2025: why it’s a top event for drone photographers
Returning to New York City’s Javits Center on June 17–18, 2025, BILD Expo is poised to become the largest stateside event of its kind for photographers, filmmakers, drone pilots and social media content creators.
Launched in 2023 following a global pandemic and industry-wide event cancellations, BILD fills a void left behind by the shuttering of iconic expos. Photokina, once the crown jewel of photography events, officially canceled its future editions in 2020 after more than 70 years in operation. PhotoPlus, the long-running Manhattan photography convention, also quietly disappeared from the calendar.
By contrast, BILD has grown. Organizers expect an even larger turnout for the 2025 edition, buoyed by free registration, a packed schedule of speakers and support from more than 250 exhibiting brands ranging from camera manufacturers to drone innovators.
“BILD Expo is more than just an event, said Jeff Gerstel, Chief Marketing Officer at B&H Photo. “It’s an energetic gathering of like-minded creatives from all corners of the content world.”
While many traditional trade shows have struggled to reinvent themselves, B&H’s unique position as both retailer and cultural steward has helped BILD evolve beyond a gear showcase. B&H Photo famously operates a brick-and-mortar store just a few blocks from the Javit’s Center, where the BILD Expo 2025 will be held. But both the store (and BILD Expo) are far more than just a place to empty your wallet. Both serve as a hub for education, collaboration and community with strong in-person customer service and learning opportunities.
The rise of the drone content creator
The BILD Expo 2025 caters to photographers of all types, drone pilots are among those particularly well-positioned to benefit from BILD Expo’s multidisciplinary programming. After all, aerial imagery now saturates travel vlogs, brand campaigns, real estate listings and documentary films.
For these creators, BILD Expo offers a rare opportunity to engage with the larger creative technology ecosystem—from hands-on demos of drones and accessories to filmmaking workshops that cover sound, lighting, editing and more.
As platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram continue to evolve into full-fledged video-first arenas, drone operators — many of whom began with a camera in the sky — are increasingly expected to deliver full cinematic packages on the ground as well.
What to expect at BILD Expo 2025
(Image courtesy of B&H Photo)
The 2025 event is structured around three educational tracks: photography, content creation, and filmmaking. Attendees can expect:
Live demos and hands-on access to the latest technology.
Panel discussions and keynotes from top creators and industry leaders.
Exclusive B&H show specials on gear and accessories.
Evening photo walks and social events around New York City.
Networking with fellow creatives, collaborators, and potential clients.
The speaker lineup is impressive, including a keynote Cristina “Mitty” Mittermeier is a renowned conservationist and photographer, who trained as a marine biologist in Mexico and founded the International League of Conservation Photographers.
Other speakers that the drone community shouldn’t miss include Elena Buenrostro, founder and CEO of Women Who Drone, and Scott Kelby, co-founder of Photoshop User magazine.
Perhaps most importantly, the event remains free to attend, a rarity in the world of industry conventions where professional access often comes with a professional price tag.
A show rooted in a retailer’s legacy
A street view of the B&H Photo Video Story in New York City, taken in 2024. (Getty Images)
That B&H is the driving force behind BILD is no small detail. As one of the world’s largest photo and video equipment retailers, the company has built a reputation over its 50-year history not only for its inventory, but for its dedication to serving the creative community at all levels.
The B&H SuperStore, located just blocks away from the Javits Center at 420 Ninth Avenue, remains a pilgrimage site for many photographers and filmmakers. It’s fitting, then, that BILD acts not just as a trade show, but as an extension of the community the store has cultivated for decades.
“I’m excited for BILD 2025. It’s going to be an industry game changer,” said filmmaker and viral creator Drex Lee in a prepared statement. “BOOM! See you in June.”
BILD Expo 2025 June 17–18, 2025 Javits Center, New York City Free registration: bildexpo.com
Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 26, 2025. That’s because the latest edition of the Federal Aviation Administration’s annual Drone Safety Day is back. Consider FAA Drone Safety Day 2025 to be your official excuse to think about drones all day long.
Drone Safety Day 2025, organized by the FAA, is part public service announcement and part fly-in celebration. Combined, it’s all about bringing the drone community together. While safety is the core message (the FAA puts safety at the forefront), this one-day, national campaign is just generally a fantastic opportunity for drone pilots to come together at in-person events.
This is the seventh annual Drone Safety Day, originally launched in 2019 as National Drone Safety Awareness Week. The FAA pared the event down to a single-day celebration starting in 2022 — and the streamlined version has stuck.
What is the FAA’s Drone Safety Day?
On the surface, Drone Safety Day is all about educating the public on safe drone practices. But in reality, it thrives because of the dozens of passionate companies, schools, and organizations that host events across the country. From hands-on flying demos to educational panels and STEM-focused family days, these events make the day feel more like a celebration than a lecture.
And if you’re an organization in the drone space? This day is a prime opportunity to showcase your expertise, connect with your community and flex your aerial marketing muscles.
FAA Drone Safety Day 2025: “Fly RIGHT”
As in years past, the FAA is rolling out its signature Fly RIGHT safety theme, a kind of goofy acronym. Its intent is to focus on five key principles:
Register your drone and comply with Remote ID — visit the FAADroneZone.
Interact with others — connect with the drone community.
Gain and share knowledge — learn the rules, teach the rules.
Have a safety plan — use tools like B4UFLY.
TRUST and Train — take the FAA’s TRUST test or a Part 107 prep course.
What’s happening for Drone Safety Day 2025?
This year’s calendar for Drone Safety Day 2025 includes events in nearly every region of the U.S. — plus virtual options if you’d rather participate from home.
Here are just a few highlights:
Drone Safety Day at Goldey-Beacom College in Delaware (April 26, 9 AM–4:30 PM)
Drone Safety Day at Unique Photo in New Jersey with Michael Downey (April 26, 11 AM–2 PM)
NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System & Drone Reports webinar (April 26, 10 AM PST)
Family Fun Fest in Westminster, Maryland (April 26, 10 AM–2 PM)
And if you can’t find an event near you? Make your own! Whether you host a casual neighborhood fly-in, an educational meetup, or a classroom STEM activity, the FAA encourages everyone to get involved. You can even register your event on the FAA’s map to make it official.
The Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL), part of the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), in collaboration with the Drone Champions League (DCL), concluded the inaugural A2RL x DCL Autonomous Drone Championship in the Middle East, at ADNEC Marina Hall, Abu Dhabi, UAE. In a major breakthrough for autonomous flight and aerial robotics, Team MavLab’s […]
General Atomics is pushing forward with several new technologies shown at Sea Air Space 2025, including, for the first time, a display of a new podded air-to-air laser system on their MQ-9B platform. A new airborne laser pod, seen in detail at Sea Air Space, is being pitched as a solution for fleet defense against […]
A team of students from the University of Washington is developing self-charging drones that use AI to survey electrical lines to look for potential threats that could knock out power or spark a fire. The group is the winner of the $15,000 grand prize at the UW’s annual Environmental Innovation Challenge. Team Voltair competed against 22 student-created […]
Forget ballrooms and bad coffee. PS Drone Fest (officially Palm Springs Drone Fest) was something else entirely. Held in sunny Palm Springs, California, PS Drone Fest felt more like the Comic-Con of drones than your typical drone industry conference. Sure, it was relatively small this year—but the energy was electric, and the potential for growth is massive.
“For me, it was the ability to bring the entertainment part of drone playing, the fun part of drone flying,” said Skip Fredricks, the Emmy-nominated director and drone cinematography pioneer who orchestrated much of the event. “That’s what made it so special.”
Watch my vlog of the event below:
And read on for even more inside this fun-filled weekend…
A playground for drone fans
Palm Springs Drone Fest in March 2025. (Photo by Hamilton Nguyen)
Palm Springs Drone Fest was not your typical drone conference. There were no cavernous ballrooms, no endless keynotes. Instead, attendees wandered from inflatable drone soccer arenas to a gym with an drone light show setup and outside to the stadium for a drone air show. It felt less like a trade show and more like a festival — a convergence of art, sport and technology that brought together pilots, performers, kids, engineers and educators.
It was the ultimate playground for drone fans. Whether you were a professional pilot, a total newbie or a wide-eyed kid clutching a controller for the first time, there was something to light your spark.
Drone Soccer: a sport and a gateway
Sally French, The Drone Girl, with a drone soccer “ball.” (Photo by Hamilton Nguyen)
That sense of fun was palpable throughout the weekend, but nowhere more so than during the drone soccer tournament — a STEM-first sport where quadcopters encased in plastic spheres smash into each other while racing to score goals. Though the sport has been growing in popularity in Europe and Asia, this was the first time many in the crowd had seen it in person — including myself.
(Photo by Sally French)
Among those who stood out in the drone soccer area was Makayla Galler, captain of the U.S. National Drone Soccer Team. Dominated primarily by young racers, drone soccer — largely youth-led —wasn’t just entertainment; it was outreach. This was how we get the next generation stoked about drones.
A hands-on haven
(Photo by Hamilton Nguyen)
Unlike some of the more traditional, buttoned-up drone conferences — where you’re parked in a ballroom for hours and your only movement is during a coffee break — Palm Springs Drone Fest was kinetic in every sense of the word. You could touch the tech. Fly the drones. Talk to the people who built them. It felt alive.
I mostly felt this in the rocket drone demos, where a bunch of kids (and hey, me!) could fly tiny drones. For many of them, it was their first time flying a drone. I’m always down to fly drones anytime!
Kids (and myself) got the chance to even put on an indoor drone light show.
The location in Palm Springs: a drone pilot’s dream
The location didn’t hurt, either. Palm Springs brought blue skies, perfect temperatures and a vibrant off-hours scene. On Thursday night before Palm Springs Drone Fest began, I wandered through Palm Springs VillageFest, a buzzing street fair with food vendors, art and local charm. Friday morning was for mini hikes to check out the Desert X art installations. Desert X is an open-air art exhibit that dotted the nearby landscape with surreal, large-scale works — among them, a mirrored gas station that blurred the lines between environment and illusion, not unlike the drones themselves.
Sally French at Acres Landing. (Photo by Hamilton Nguyen)
The VIP resort was an Airstream glampground, which might be the most on-brand drone pilot lodging I’ve ever seen.
The main event of PS Drone Fest: a drone air show like no other
The crowds getting ready for the evening air show at Palm Springs Drone Fest in March 2025. (Photo by Hamilton Nguyen)
But the pièce de résistance at PS Drone Fest? The concept of a drone air show.
The parade of students opening the air show at Palm Springs Drone Fest in March 2025. (Photo by Sally French)
As someone who has attended EAA AirVenture before — and attends San Francisco’s Fleet Week in my own city religiously — this was a revelation. Yes, there was the outdoor nighttime drone show from SkyWorx, which dazzled as expected. But the air show format brought it to the next level.
A Promo Drone at Palm Springs Drone Fest in March 2025. (Photo by Sally French)
We’re talking orb racing that felt like Star Wars pod racing reimagined, FPV freestyle, a Promo Drone demo with live graphics, a DJ performance paired with an electric violin, and yes, even a Jedi lightsaver stunt routine.
(Photo by Sally French)
Fredricks, the maestro behind this spectacle, orchestrated a symphony of drone culture that fused sport, art, education and pure showmanship.
PS Drone Fest: what’s next?
Palm Springs Drone Fest was unlike any drone event I’ve attended — and I’ve been to a lot of drone events. It was playful, innovative and deeply community-driven.
Sally French, The Drone Girl, watching the drone show put on by Skyworx at Palm Springs Drone Fest in March 2025. (Photo by Hamilton Nguyen)
Big names in the drone industry came out to be a part of it. That included Vic Moss, one of the most respected names in aerial photography and co-founder of the Drone Service Providers Alliance. There was Sharon Rossmark, founder of Women and Drones. Desiree Ekstein, known in the industry as Drone Diva Desi, was there too. The list goes on. For hobbyists and professionals alike, it was a rare opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the industry’s most influential figures — not in a lecture hall, but out in the sun, remote in hand.
VIP speakers at the inaugural Palm Springs Drone Fest in March 2025. (Photo by Sally French)
This could be the beginning of something huge. Think: the Comic-Con of drones, a fan-driven, high-energy celebration of all things unmanned and awesome. PS Drone Fest showcased a new way to think about how drones are introduced, celebrated and shared with the public. As the technology matures and interest broadens, this kind of format — immersive, inclusive and visually spectacular — may well become the new standard for drone events.
In the days ahead, TheDroneGirl.com will publish exclusive interviews and video features from other key figures in attendance at PS Drone Fest, including Fiona Lake, the Australian agricultural drone advocate, and Tony Reid, a drone pilot and educator who’s helping define what drone education looks like for the next generation.
One of the aircraft competing to be the US Air Force’s (USAF’s) first-ever uncrewed fighter jet is making its overseas debut at the 2025 Avalon air show. American defence start-up Anduril has brought a full-scale model of its Fury design to Australia, with an eye toward future business opportunities. In North America, a missionised version […]
The International Drone Show, Northern Europe’s largest UAS industry event, returns to HCA Airport in Odense, Denmark, with an expanded program and a strong lineup of international speakers. This year’s conference will focus on Defense, Security & the Arctic, Advanced Air Mobility, Integrated Airspace, and Industry Use Cases & New Technologies. Following a record 500+ […]
– Japan Drone 2025 / International Advanced air Mobility (IAAM) EXPO 2025, hosted by the Japan UAS Industrial Development Association (JUIDA), will be held from June 4 (Wednesday) to June 6 (Friday), 2025, in the Tokyo area. This exhibition, under the theme of “Contributing to the Creation of New Industries and Strengthening International Competitiveness,” is […]
– Silvus Technologies, Inc., a global supplier of advanced wireless networking communications, has announced the launch of its latest innovation – the DualStream PTT Controller – at Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week 2025 in Tampa, Florida. Designed for the connected operator, the DualStream PTT Controller streamlines tactical communications, enhancing situational awareness in the most demanding […]
June 17–18, 2025
Free registration: 
Drone Safety Day at Goldey-Beacom College in Delaware (April 26, 9 AM–4:30 PM)
Drone Safety Day at Unique Photo in New Jersey with Michael Downey (April 26, 11 AM–2 PM)
NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System & Drone Reports webinar (April 26, 10 AM PST)
Family Fun Fest in Westminster, Maryland (April 26, 10 AM–2 PM)
“What’s Up With Drones?!” at Williamsburg Executive Airport in Virginia (May 3, 10 AM–4 PM)
