Drones to light up night airshow at AirVenture 2024

Drones will take over the night sky this summer in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The EAA announced Friday that Starlight Aerial Productions will produce and perform a drone-driven light display, featuring as many as 500 drones as part of AirVenture's night airshows on July 24 and 27. The Michigan-based company most recently filled the night sky over Detroit with a 400-drone show to celebrate the Detroit Lions' appearance in the NFC Championship Game. Its parent company, Great Lakes drone company first appeared at AirVenture, general aviation's largest annual event, in 2018. However, the EAA noted in a release that drone technology at the time was still emerging. The company has also produced drone shows for Thunder Over Louisville, a fireworks and airshow that kicks off the Kentucky Derby Festival and draws in hundreds of thousands each year.RELATED STORIES:Airshow andamp; fireworks at Thunder Over Louisville help a city heal Top performers committing to EAA AirVenture 2024 air shows Present-day drone shows "feature innovations that make flying hundreds of drones more efficient and capable of executing much more complex formations," stated an EAA statement announcing the event."Today's drone shows are pushing the boundaries of aerial entertainment and creating moments that leave an indelible mark on the heart and mind," said Matt Quinn, CEO of Great Lakes Drone Company. "The Oshkosh shows will celebrate human ingenuity as a testament to the unyielding spirit of exploration that aviation embodies." The show at AirVenture will include American-made Lumenier ARORA drones equipped with LED lights that can create more than 4 billion color combinations along with animated sequences that are synchronized to a musical score. "Drone shows have emerged as a marvelous way to add technology, color, and entertainment to nighttime events and for us, it's a perfect complement to the skill and excitement brought to the legendary Oshkosh night air shows by our aerobatic pilots and aircraft," said Rick Larsen, EAA's vice president of communities and member programs, who coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. "This addition will make the night show even more memorable in 2024." The EAA said that additional details regarding Starlight's drone shows at EAA AirVenture will be released as it is finalized. AirVenture 2024, the 71st edition of the event, runs July 22-28 at Whittman Regional Airport (OSH) in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.