FAQs

Sky LItes

Frequently asked questions

What is a drone light show?

A drone light show is a stunning aerial performance where multiple drones equipped with LED lights fly in synchronized patterns to create dazzling visual displays in the night sky. These shows are often used for events such as festivals, weddings, corporate functions, and national celebrations as a modern and environmentally friendly alternative to fireworks.

Drone light shows are pre-programmed using custom 3D animation software to control the movements and light sequences of each drone. The drones are equipped with GPS and sensors to ensure precise positioning and avoid collisions. Our shows go through numerous checks to ensure the fidelity of the artwork design and safety of the flight. 

The cost of a drone light show varies depending on factors such as the number of drones, the complexity of the preproduction, location, and duration of the show. Shows can range in price dramatically from several thousands to sometimes even hundreds of thousands of dollar. Contact us for a personalized quote based on your specific event needs.

Drone light shows can feature anywhere from 20 to over 1,000 drones, depending on the scale and complexity of the display. For smaller events, fewer drones may be used to create impactful visuals, while larger shows with hundreds or even thousands of drones can produce breathtaking, larger-than-life animations. Sky Lites shows start around 75 drones, and scale up from there. With such a new and exciting medium, you may be surprised how impactful even a small 20 drone show can be!

We typically need 30 Days prior to the event to start our storyboarding and animation process. There can also be some lead time required for FAA Authorizations for the airspace.

Current technology allows us to fly up to 12 min depending on the take off position to the drone dance area.

Weather conditions like high winds and rain can delay our shows but we will do our best to be ready to launch if the conditions allow it.

The size of the launch area depends on how many drones you require and the size of the animations. For 150 drones we need a take off area of about 75ftx100ft with a dance radius of about 85 ft from the center of our take off grid.

We require a minimum of 175ft from the closest drone to the audience.

It typically takes about 5-7 hours to setup our shows at the event location.

We can create 8-12 unique 2D and 3D animations.

Yes, we have coverage up to $4 million in liability and will share these details in our service contract.

We hold a certificate of waiver with the FAA for flying a drone swarm and flying at night. We file paperwork with FAA for each show to alert pilots in the area of our operation.

Our flight system includes redundant radio control for emergency landings, a dedicated computer for manual show override, and a geofence in the flight software that forces drones to land if they breach the fence during high winds.

In Accordance with FAA Policies, we are not allowed to fly above 400ft in the USA. Waivers from the FAA can be granted but are not guaranteed.

16 mph Gusts are our max operating wind speeds and 12-16 mph sustained winds would postpone our launch time.

Sky LItes

Drone Light Show Process

Location

Location Review

Verify FAA regulations, assess obstructions, & ensure safety perimeter

Creative

Creative Brief

Design discovery meeting, event goals, & process outline

Storyboard

Storyboarding

Tell your story with images, sketches, & artboards

Animation

Animation

Translate our storyboarding process in to a drone dance

Video

Previsualization

Preview your drone light show to ensure satisfaction and success

Drone

Rehearsal

Before the main event, we will conduct a full drone light show test to check for obstacles and signal interference

Event

Night of Event

Drones Reset & Ready for Launch | Monitor Weather & Local Airspace | Enjoy the show

75 vs 150

drone fleet comparison