Our Story

From Southern California to A Cabin in the Woods

 Every entrepreneur has their version of the “I started in a garage” story—tales of the early days of start-up strife - equal parts terror and triumph. At Applied, we have several. Back in 2014, the industry looked a whole lot different. There was no 107, no talk of approved BVLOS, no drone delivery or UTM. Just a whole bunch of innovators, working to develop technology they believed would change the world. 

We started in Southern California, our founders working away in the tiniest of spaces, squeezing in work on the Albatross late into the night, all to make their dream of an affordable long-range drone a reality.

The design took over two years, with our lead designer working furiously to ensure every aspect of the Albatross met the mark. At the same time, the rest of the team navigated the complex and rarely linear world of manufacturing, eventually fusing the two to make our initial systems. 

It would be an understatement to say we bounced around from location to location while getting Applied off the ground. One somewhat unorthodox phase of our journey saw us building out initial test systems and responding to early sales inquiries from a cabin the woods…this is not a metaphor for anything. We quite literally worked from a cabin in the woods.

There, we were free from chaos and distraction and focused our efforts entirely on getting Applied off the ground. We talked strategy, brainstormed new ideas, and perfected the initial Albatross units. 

Years later, we find that same system perfected in a cabin in the woods flying in over 50 countries and completing missions we only dreamed possible way back when. 

We share these photos from the early days of Applied with you now as a reminder to stick it out no matter where you are in your process. Anything worth building takes time. We also share them as a reminder to not only celebrate where you are but to take a moment to reflect on how you got there and celebrate that in equal measure. 

About Applied Aeronautics

Applied Aeronautics is a US-based UAV manufacturer, specializing in the design and manufacturing of affordable, long-range composite drones. Applied Aeronautics’ flagship product, The Albatross, is an electric fixed wing UAV designed for use in most industries, ranging from agriculture and research to disaster management and defense. This entirely customizable solution was engineered for accessibility, to meet the growing demand for a professional UAV that married robust capabilities with an affordable price point. For more information, please visit http://www.AppliedAeronautics.com