When UFOs Landed in Canada: How First Class Drones Flew Custom Built Drones For Subway

On UFO Day, Canadians tuning into the morning show witnessed something strange in the skies. But it wasn’t aliens, it was a custom-built Subway box flying under a heavy lift drone.

At First Class Drones, we had the thrill of making this campaign happen. With our Alta X heavy lift drone and a lot of creative engineering, we helped Subway pull off their “Unidentified Footlong Object” reveal complete with pretzels, cookies, and churros.

The Alta X with Custom Subway Box

Planning the UFO Invasion

The idea began when Keystone Studios reached out on behalf of Subway. The pitch? Use a drone to fly in a branded Subway box for a live TV stunt.

We loved it instantly. After all, what better way to celebrate UFO Day than with a drone delivered UFO (Unidentified Footlong Object)?

Key considerations:

• Drone Capacity: Our Alta X can lift up to 36 lbs, making it ideal for this type of activation.

• Custom Box: Keystone Studios designed a lightweight branded box sized at 22” x 12” x 8” — sturdy enough for flight, stylish enough for TV.

• Location: We secured a farm field in Vaughan, Ontario, and worked with the landowners to coordinate around their farming schedule.

Box Rendering 1

Box Rendering 2

Engineering the Unidentified Footlong Object

This wasn’t just about strapping a box to a drone. It was about making a custom built drone solution that was safe and visually appealing.

• Opening Mechanism: Since the box opened from the top, the plan was for the drone to land, allow the host to easily slide off the lid, and access the items inside.

• Testing & Safety: We confirmed the weight distribution, balance, and box would not interfere with flight.

  
  

Showtime: The UFO Touchdown

On June 24th, the stunt went live.

As the morning show host reported from the field, viewers spotted a strange flying object. The Alta X approached, carrying the shining Subway UFO box.

The host played along perfectly, joking that a UFO was landing. Seconds later, the drone touched down and the host revealed its delicious secrets:

• A footlong pretzel

• A footlong cookie

• A footlong churro

  
  

It was the perfect reveal, funny, surprising, and unforgettable.

Watch it unfold below:

Why Brands Love Flying Stunts with Custom Built Drones

For Subway, this was a way to bring their campaign to life in a way no billboard or TV spot could match. For us, it was another chance to showcase the power of our drone services in Canada, especially in brand activations and live events.

With custom drones and our experience in aerial engineering, First Class Drones specializes in making bold marketing ideas take flight:

• Heavy lift drones for product deliveries and stunts

• Custom-built drone solutions for unique activations

• Drone services across Canada for film, TV, and live events

  
  

  

  Behind The Scenes

  
  

Mission Accomplished

Subway’s “Unidentified Footlong Object” proved that not all UFOs come from space, some are custom-built, flight-tested, and piloted right here in Canada.

At First Class Drones, we’re proud to have made this UFO sighting possible. And who knows, the next strange object in the sky might just be another one of our creations.

Looking for custom drone services in Canada?

Visit First Class Drones to see how we can bring your brand’s ideas to life.