Perry High School Aerospace students recently demonstrated their skills and teamwork at the 2nd Annual Fly Forward: Drone Search & Rescue State Championship, earning a first-place finish in one of the competition's three challenging missions.
Hosted by the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA) and the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (OAIRE), the competition for veteran teams was held November 4, 2026, at Lake Carl Blackwell. A total of 22 teams competed in the statewide event, which challenged students to use drone technology and problem-solving skills in simulated search and rescue situations.
Each team had the opportunity to compete in three missions: Lost Hiker, Snakebite Victim, and Water Rescue. The Perry High School team earned 1st place in the Snakebite Victim mission, completing the challenge in an impressive 2 minutes and 25 seconds.
For this mission, teams were required to locate a simulated hiker who had been downed on a trail after suffering a snakebite. Once the victim was located, students had to accurately drop a medical kit within a three-foot circle so first aid could be administered.
Representing PHS Aerospace were five students: Jordan Hedrick, Kaidyn Flemming, Grant Coker, Ryder Jones, and Jett Kennedy. Ron Dwyer is the PHS Aerospace instructor.
The competition provided students with an opportunity to apply their aerospace knowledge and technical skills in a hands-on environment while experiencing how drone technology can be used in real-world emergency response situations.
Congratulations to these students on their impressive accomplishment and for proudly representing Perry High School!