Tulsa’s first drone deliveries take off Wednesday as Manna Air Delivery launches its first drone base on Cherry Street. Tulsans can order meals, groceries and other items for delivery to their doorsteps.
John Favell, a retiree in Terwilleger Heights, says he is glad the Irish company is bringing its manufacturing and operations to Tulsa and fascinated by what it means for innovation in the city.
“I’m excited for Tulsa to bring in new industry and actually be a leader in something for a change,” Favell said.
A drone pilot himself — though not a very good one, he says — Favell is hopeful Manna’s introduction can lead to fewer delivery drivers and less congestion on the road.
“The clampdown of traffic due to all these orange cones they’ve got up at 21st and Lewis … the traffic backup is just terrible. We’ve got so much congestion out there,” Favell said. “If there’s a way to circumvent that by having aerial flights, then that may be the answer.”
As the company prepares for liftoff starting at 10 a.m. Wednesday, some Tulsans have told the Flyer they are wary of how Manna’s air deliveries may impact their neighborhoods. The company also faced opposition from Irish residents who raised concern over noise pollution.
But Louie Napoleone, director of business recruitment at Tulsa Local Ventures, a subsidiary of the George Kaiser Family Foundation, says Manna’s expansion to Tulsa is going to bring a “huge convenience factor” and more jobs to the city.
“Tulsa — as a large, small city, I guess — doesn’t always get the first look at a lot of these new technologies or to be a pioneer in these things, and I really think we should, because of just our spirit as a city, our entrepreneurialism,” Napoleone said.
It is normal for Tulsans to have questions about cutting-edge technology, he says, but he puts a lot of emphasis on the convenience factor, job creation and potentially decongested roads.
“The one thing I have really learned from working with the Manna team is they’re incredibly receptive and community-oriented,” Napoleone said. “They want this to work in communities. Not just because it’s a good business, it’s how this company operates. It’s part of their DNA.”
‘A city that has done the hard work’
Tech leaders have touted Manna’s arrival as a sign that the city is delivering on its promise to become the “drone capital of the world.”
Another GKFF program, Tulsa Innovation Labs, played a key role in the city being designated as a “tech hub” by the U.S. federal government in 2023 — just one of 31 cities to receive that title. That designation opened the door for millions of dollars in federal funding for the Tulsa Tech Hub to work on technologies involving drones, unmanned aerial systems and other technology.
That investment led to the tech hub’s creation of the SAFE-T radar system, which allows drones to travel safely beyond the visual line of sight. Napoleone said the radar system allows for aircrafts that do not have transponders to still be visible.
He credits Jennifer Hankins, TIL’s co-founder and managing director, with identifying drones as a “right to win” industry sector for Tulsa during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement, Hankins said the years TIL spent investing into infrastructure and capabilities are translating into “companies and jobs coming into our community.”
“For Tulsa Innovation Labs, it validates the thesis we organized a 70-partner coalition around from day one,” she said. “And for Tulsa’s tech community, it’s a signal to every founder and operator watching: this is a city that has done the hard work and is genuinely ready, not just willing.”
Manna CEO Bobby Healy has estimated the Irish company will bring 1,000 jobs to Tulsa over the next three years. Manna hopes to build between 20 to 30 drone bases, like the one on Cherry Street, across Tulsa and Broken Arrow.
In a press release Monday, Healy said the company is excited to provide a faster, more convenient and affordable way to make deliveries.
“Launching our first operational air delivery base in Tulsa is a major milestone for Manna and an exciting step forward for the future of delivery in the United States,” Healy said. “…Cherry Street’s vibrant community and strong local business scene make it an ideal place to launch, and we’re excited to offer residents a whole new way to shop local.”
Andolini’s Pizzeria, Paréa Coffee and Sapori are among the local businesses included on Manna’s app from launch, according to the release.
‘It’s just a lot of fun’: Some Irish mourning Manna move
While several Irish residents made their critiques about Manna known to the Flyer when the company halted operations in Ireland in June, others across the pond are mourning the loss of Manna and its drone deliveries.
Ian Downes, who handmakes popsicles with his 14-year-old son Leon in Dublin, says Manna’s drone deliveries allowed new customers to access the business during its early days. According to the Irish Times, Kahuna Pops are now sold in more than 50 outlets across Ireland.
“It was a gamechanger for us,” Downes said. “It changed us from being a small business with a very limited reach into a business with a really good reach.”
Pam O’Brien, a first-grade teacher in Dublin, says she initially began using drone deliveries out of novelty for her kids, but it later turned to convenience.
“If they had friends over and you wanted to order a pizza, it was really quick,” O’Brien said. “My kids aren’t super young, they’re six and eight. But to leave the house with them to go for a coffee can be a bit of an ordeal. It’s a handy thing to be able just to order a coffee.”
As her children are often playing in the street with other kids in the neighborhood, O’Brien says she liked that drones kept cars off the road in addition to speeding up delivery.
“As much as you warn them not to play on the road, they are playing on the road,” O’Brien said. “The less drivers there are is always a good thing.”
Both Downes and O’Brien say the benefits of drone technology outweigh any supposed cons Tulsans might be worried about. Healy addressed some of those concerns, like noise pollution, privacy and wildlife impact, at a town hall last month.
O’Brien compares the drone buzzing noise to a lawnmower.
“That’s the kind of noise level. It wasn’t hugely disruptive,” she said. “And it would only be there for maybe a minute, then it’s gone.”
Downes says Tulsans should know Manna’s drones work efficiently and can deliver more than food.
“Food delivery is one thing it can do, but they can also deliver emergency care, defibrillators,” Downes said. “I suppose the thing I would say is that, you know, it’s a fantastic technology, it works extremely well and it’s a lot of fun.”
The George Kaiser Family Foundation has provided financial support for the Tulsa Flyer. News decisions at the Tulsa Flyer are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
