The first ever FAI World Fly-In Expo was held from November 4 to 7, in Wuhan, China. The show featured hundreds of aircraft, including jets, helicopters, hot air balloons and of course drones. According to an article in the NY Times, the drones were actually the stars of the event.
Drones put up a show at the World Fly-In Expo
With the help of companies such as Chinese drone manufacturer Da Jiang Innovations Science and Technology Company, better known of course as DJI, unmanned aerial vehicles have made a meteoric rise in the aviation industry.
In China, drones are being used for power line inspections, maintenance, air quality monitoring, agriculture, and of course for fun. During the FAI World Fly-In Expo they were used to clear the airspace of birds, to create videos of the expo and for a night-time show, where about one hundred drones were flown synchronously to create words and patterns in the night sky.
At the air show in Wuhan, more than 100 white drones were positioned on a grassy field in preparation of the drone light show later that evening. The drones were from Ehang, a Guangzhou-based company that makes consumer and commercial drones. You may know them from the unmanned taxi we reported on earlier.
As it got dark two employees of Ehang, Mr. Zhang and Mr. Yuan, took their controls and sent the swarm of drones up into the sky. In a tight synchronized group, the drones flew together to form various words and shapes. The photo galleries below will give you a good impression of the event. What blew me away is the easy and speed with which the drones were able to fly together and create an amazing drone show.
Enjoy!
Photo and video gallery
Dozens of drones waiting to perform in a light show at Hannan General Aviation Airport in Wuhan, China, in November. Credit Lam Yik Fei for The New York Times
Members of a team from Guangdong Province carrying a drone during a competition involving industrial-grade drones. Credit Lam Yik Fei for The New York Times
The Guangdong Province team’s vehicle flying during the industrial-grade drone competition. Credit Lam Yik Fei for The New York Times
Drones used to sonically repel birds during flight activities at Hannan General Aviation Airport in Wuhan. Credit Lam Yik Fei for The New York Times
Yang Lei, who leads a drone club at Zhongjiacun elementary school in Wuhan, talking with students, including Xiong Sheyu, 11. Credit Lam Yik Fei for The New York Times
A remote-control plane operated by the student Xiong Sheyu. Credit Lam Yik Fei for The New York Times
Wang Haomin, a 26-year-old student at Ewatt Aerospace’s drone school in Wuhan. Credit Lam Yik Fei for The New York Times
Employees of Ehang, a commercial drone maker, checking the vehicles before a light show in Wuhan. Credit Lam Yik Fei for The New York Times Photo
The drone light show at the Hannan General Aviation Airport in Wuhan. Credit Lam Yik Fei for The New York Times
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https://youtu.be/_psGenWjMEY
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Haye Kesteloo is the Editor in Chief and Main Writer at DroneDJ, where he covers all drone related news and writes product reviews. He also contributes to the other sites in the 9to5Mac group such as; 9to5Mac, 9to5Google, 9to5Toys and Electrek. Haye can be reached at haye@dronedj.com or @hayekesteloo
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