Wing Aviation to invest $125M into Fort Worth drone manufacturing factory

More delivery drones could fill North Texas skies as an aviation company plans to invest $125 million over the next two years to manufacture aircraft at a new factory in Fort Worth.

Wing Aviation LLC, which partnered with Walmart for deliveries in North Texas and four other metropolitan areas, plans to manufacture its next-generation aircraft in a new 15,000-square-foot facility, officials announced Friday afternoon.

“Drone delivery has become a global reality, driven by clear demand from our partners and their customers,” Wing CEO Adam Woodworth said in a statement. “The U.S. is our focus for growth, and by investing in the future of drone delivery here, we are continuing to advance American aviation innovation as we build our commercial momentum.”

Wing, which operates drones at nearly 70 Walmart locations, recently completed more than 1 million home deliveries this year.

The partnership will expand to more than 270 stores with drone deliveries planned in San Diego; Memphis, Tennessee; New Orleans; Philadelphia; Phoenix; Salt Lake City; and the San Francisco Bay area.

“Our work with Walmart has shown that drone delivery isn’t just a novelty, it’s a service many customers count on multiple times per week,” said Heather Rivera, Wing’s chief business officer. “We’re already working with many communities in the seven new markets, as we accelerate our progress to bring ultra-fast delivery to 40 million residents throughout the U.S.”

Wing officials said the company’s investment in Fort Worth will create up to 100 new manufacturing jobs, allowing the company to produce tens of thousands of drones annually to support its nationwide expansion.

Wing, which started its local delivery service in June 2024 at the Walmart at 8520 N. Beach St., also provides service from 19 local Walmart locations, including two stores in North Richland Hills.

Walmart also contracts with Zipline for North Texas deliveries.

Wing officials said the investment expands domestic drone production ahead of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Beyond Visual Line of Sight regulatory framework intended to strengthen U.S. manufacturing capacity.

Eric E. Garcia is senior business reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at eric.garcia@fortworthreport.org.

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