Drone Expo At St. Pete Middle School Draws Enthusiasts From Across FL

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Now in its third year, the Sunshine State Drone Expo draws drone aviation enthusiasts from across the state for a day of demonstrations and displays.

This year’s expo takes place Saturday, 89 a.m. to 5 p.m., on the football field at St. Petersburg’s Azalea Middle School, 7855 22nd Ave. N.

The annual gathering was founded by educator Willis Reese, who teaches seventh-grade engineering, drone aviation and piloted aviation at the middle school.

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The expo aligns with the Federal Aviation Administration’s national drone safety program, he told Patch. “From there, it grew into what it is today. We’re still about the safety, but also want to expand people’s thinking, making them aware of all the good things drones are doing in modern society to help us.”

The event features drone racing, remote-controlled aerobatics, and flight exhibitions from the Florida Highway Patrol, Duke Energy and Southern Manatee Fire Rescue’s HAZMAT team.

Attendees also can earn their TRUST certificate on the spot, catch the “Weather vs. Your Drone” presentation from Spectrum Bay News 9 meteorologist Brian McClure, and check out industry displays from Raytheon, Motorola, FLYMOTION, Little Arms, the local Sparks chapter of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, and more.

“It’s an amazing thing,” Reese said. “Every year, people come out and are dazzled by all this stuff.”