Last week, drones and helicopters filled the skies in AllianceTexas above the Texas Motor Speedway as part of a large-scale exercise simulating a wildland fire. Unlike traditional operations, every aircraft was directed by advanced, fully autonomous technologies.
One team of robotic aircraft located the fire, while another identified water sources for refilling. Working together, the drone teams coordinated which fire targets to attack first, how to avoid one another, and how to deconflict with any rogue aircraft in the area—all while repeating the firefighting cycle.

In January 2024, the North Texas Cohort, led by the University of North Texas (UNT), received a two-year contract from the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) to continue Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) research across Dallas-Fort Worth-Denton. The program, titled NTCMT 1-2022, Advanced Air Mobility/Urban Air Mobility System Within the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex (NTXAAMPP), focused on designing, testing, and demonstrating advanced air corridor systems in the DFW and Perot Field Alliance Airport region. The work builds on three years of prior NASA and U.S. Air Force AAM research and development.

Operation FIRE SWARM 2, the latest in a series of increasingly complex trials, showcased the BlueSkies™ Operational Air Mobility system—a hardware/software solution enabling manned and unmanned aircraft to coordinate and safely execute complex maneuvers in metropolitan airspace or wildfire conditions.

For this exercise, a simulated fire was detected near Hillwood’s AllianceTexas Flight Test Center, west of Texas Motor Speedway. An Incident Command Center (ICC) was established to manage the operation. Autonomous search drones were deployed to scan the designated “Fire Traffic Area,” while air corridors and routing were created for a swarm of “water bomber” aircraft. These bombers, professionally piloted Bell 505 helicopters from the Helicopter Institute fitted with BlueSkies™, received assignments via CivTAK tablets.

The water bombers autonomously flew to their designated refill sites, safely deconflicted from one another by the system, then coordinated with search drones to update fire locations and simulate retardant drops at critical points. Once complete, they returned for retasking as new aircraft cycled in.

The mission was a success, marking two firsts in aviation.

• The first live demonstration of small drones operating under FAA-compliant Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) software, seamlessly interacting with larger aircraft running NASA-designed Provider of Services for UTM (PSU) software.
• The first fully autonomous, multi-aircraft, multi-operator live flight operation demonstrating vehicle-to-vehicle communications in the air.

The FIRE SWARM team will close out the NTXAAMPP project in the coming months but will continue advancing AAM development with partners including NASA’s Advanced Mobility Pathfinder (AMP) project, Texas A&M’s CROW program, and the FAA’s UTM Operational Evaluation Key Site initiative—all based in Texas.

The North Texas Cohort includes Hillwood and Alliance Aviation Services, which owns and operates the AllianceTexas Flight Test Center; the Helicopter Institute as the air platform, crew, and training partner; Avianco as one of the PSU providers; Metron as the demand-capability balancing software developer; Hermes as the primary data-hub; AAMTEX as the UTM and weather service provider; University of North Texas (UNT) as the program lead; and Unmanned Experts Inc. as the program manager and BlueSkies™ development and marketing team.

For more information, please contact Keven Gambold at [email protected].

What started as a moment is now a full-fledged movement.

From West 7th to the AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone (MIZ), from Hollywood productions to Wall Street relocations, Fort Worth–Dallas has emerged as the epicenter of American innovation, entrepreneurship, and enduring values.

Nowhere was that more evident than at the recent Forward Fort Worth 2025 Summit at the iconic Hotel Drover. Innovation and ambition took center stage as Hillwood, AllianceTexas, and the City of Fort Worth convened a powerhouse lineup of investors, entrepreneurs, and supply chain leaders from across Texas and the nation.

The headline conversation—a candid exchange between Ross Perot Jr. and former U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy—captured it perfectly: we’re not waiting for someone else to define the future. We’re building it, right here.

That’s Cowboy Capitalism in action.

It’s bold, pragmatic, and purpose-driven. It’s capitalism with a backbone and a soul—rooted in faith, family, and freedom, yet unafraid to bet big on what’s next.

Our pioneers didn’t wait for permission. They took risks, built legacies, and shared prosperity. That same spirit lives on today—not just in how we do business, but in how we cultivate leadership, empower communities, and create long-term value.

It’s also the product of smart policy and visionary leadership.

That’s why major employers and high-growth startups are choosing Fort Worth–Dallas as their home. We’re setting the pace in logistics, aerospace, AI, energy innovation, and defense—and attracting capital and partnerships from across the globe.

• MP Materials is producing up to 1,000 metric tons of magnets annually to power smartphones, EVs, and reduce our reliance on foreign rare earths.
• Bell Textron is investing over half a billion dollars to build next-generation military aircraft—bringing 500 high-paying jobs with it.
• Siemens, praised by Governor Abbott, is expanding its operations to meet surging demand from data centers nationwide.

Venture and private equity capital is pouring in at record levels. Just five years ago, North Texas saw $500 million in venture funding annually. Today, that number exceeds $1.4 billion—and rising. We’re quickly becoming The Capital of Capital, and we’re just getting started.

It’s not just business that’s booming—it’s leadership.

Mayor Mattie Parker and a new generation of civic-minded leaders are ensuring that growth is anchored in values and built to last. Texas A&M’s bold expansion into downtown Fort Worth is just the latest signal that our region is investing in its future from the ground up.

Even the financial markets are taking note. The Texas Stock Exchange (TXSE), Nasdaq, and NYSE are planting roots in our region. The reasons are obvious:

• Fort Worth is now the 10th largest city in America.
• Fort Worth–Dallas is on track to surpass Chicago as the nation’s third-largest region by 2030.
• 24 Fortune 500 companies call North Texas home.

And when Professional Bull Riding (PBR) moves its headquarters to Fort Worth, the message is clear: we’re at the center of the Texas Miracle—and Cowboy Capitalism is leading the charge.

This is what happens when individuals, families, and businesses are given the right environment to flourish.

The legacy of Sid Richardson, Amon Carter, Charles Tandy, and Ross Perot Jr. laid the foundation. Today, a new generation of investors, builders, and visionaries are carrying the torch forward.

Cowboy Capitalism isn’t a relic of the past. It’s a model for the future and a blueprint for the nation.

The momentum is real—and it’s only getting stronger.

Hillwood recently hosted its fourth annual Forward Fort Worth mobility innovation summit, bringing together more than 150 supply chain executives, entrepreneurs, and investors from around the world. The event focused on advancing and commercializing mobility innovation across the supply chain, reinforcing North Texas as a premier hub for next-generation logistics and transportation technology.

The AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone (MIZ) continues to drive collaboration at the intersection of supply chain technology, autonomy, and advanced infrastructure. As the 12th largest city in the U.S., Fort Worth stands at a critical crossroads of commerce, boasting one of the nation’s top freight markets—an ideal environment for pioneering mobility solutions.

“Forward Fort Worth is more than just a summit—it’s about building real connections that lead to action,” said Ian Kinne, Director of Logistics Innovation at Hillwood. “Over two days, we brought together some of the sharpest minds in mobility and logistics to share ideas and take meaningful steps toward innovation that drives real impact—for businesses and communities alike. At Hillwood, innovation isn’t just a buzzword—it’s at the heart of what we do, and we’re proud to help shape the future alongside so many forward-thinking partners.”

A Dynamic Lineup of Thought Leaders and Industry Experts

The summit opened with remarks from Mike Berry, President of Hillwood, at Hotel Drover in Mule Alley. Day two featured Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker and a keynote fireside chat between Kevin McCarthy, 55th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and Ross Perot, Jr., Chairman of The Perot Group & Hillwood.

The event’s panel discussions explored critical topics shaping the future of logistics and mobility, including:

• Off-Road Autonomy: Building supply chain efficiency today, preparing for tomorrow
• Reimagining Logistics: Game-changing technologies transforming the industry
• Port Innovation: Adapting to a changing landscape
• Investment Strategies: The intersection of defense and supply chain innovation
• Autonomous Trucking: The business case for scalable adoption

Industry leaders from Apex Advisors, BNSF Railway, Forterra, PepsiCo, Aerolane, UPS Flight Forward, Radia, Inc., Lynxis, IMC Companies, Hapag-Lloyd AG, Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership, NewRoad Capital Partners, UP Partners, Trousdale Ventures, The Road to Autonomy, Uber Freight, FedEx, and Torc Robotics shared insights on cutting-edge advancements and strategic investments shaping the future of mobility.

The Future of Mobility Innovation is Here

With a strong foundation of public-private partnerships, a rapidly expanding technology ecosystem, and access to a robust logistics network, the AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone remains a catalyst for real-world deployment and commercialization of mobility solutions.