drone shows

Drone show organizer and tech creator Verge Aero has taken another step towards its apparent goal of putting itself out of business (kinda), with the introduction of its eponymously branded Composer software designed to transform neophytes into celestial Twyla Tharps.

Say it with drone shows. That’s the method the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has adopted this summer in spreading its message about the considerable dangers of the public accessing land used for military training – including areas hosting fast-moving exercises that may involve live munitions. 

A pair of drone shows experienced starkly contrasting fortunes over the weekend, with a spectacular event above Disneyland Paris setting a European record for the most UAVs performing at once, while another in Melbourne ended with most of the 500 craft plunging into the city’s Yarra River.

Given the rapidly spreading popularity of lighted UAV choreographies, it’s little wonder that the Third International Drone Show Competition is set to be bigger and more diverse than ever – and taking entries now until November 20.

Leading drone show conceptualization and performing company, SKYMAGIC, will be at work this Sunday for the return of the Vivid Sydney creative festival, where a record 600 UAVs will light up the sky in a choreographed spectacle.

French startup Dronisos has won much applause for lighting up the skies with its choreography of hundreds of drones in light shows, but now it’s gaining attention from defense groups eager to put the company’s command of mass UAV navigation to work in drone swarms flying security missions.

Everyone loves aerial light performances, but few people ever get a backstage peek at what goes into staging the spectacles. To remedy that, UK- and Singapore-based drone show specialist SKYMAGIC sat down with DroneDJ to offer an idea on how those work ­– and how the company differs from rivals in bringing the skies to life.