Rick Boss is the chief of Sky Parts Drones, the main supplier of drone gentle exhibits across the U.S. He just lately invited me behind-the-scenes of his firm’s Star Wars drone gentle present on the Oakland Coliseum as a part of the staff’s Star Wars Evening.
I’ve acquired a massive recap of the occasion right here, together with tons of pictures, which you’ll learn and think about right here. There’s additionally a video on my YouTube channel that includes a few of the highlights, proper beneath:
However whereas that video has just a few snippets of our Q&A, it doesn’t embody all of it. Thus, I’ve determined to share our full Q&A in textual content kind. In our behind-the-scenes interview, he shares how they handle to journey with all these drones, what the setup entails and extra. So with out additional adieu, right here’s that interview with Rick Boss!
Drone Lady: What are we taking a look at behind us?
Rick Boss: Tonight we’re taking a look at 500 drones for a present that’s going to be Star Wars themed. What’s occurring proper now could be the crew is establishing all of the drones, calibrating the drones, and ensuring we’re able to go for tonight.
DG: And there’s really a reasonably decently sized crew. How many individuals do you have got placing on this entire endeavor?
RB: Usually for a present the dimensions we’ve about 15 to 18 individuals to get all of the drones arrange, however only one particular person flying the present.
DG: So these of us have been doing a whole lot of work calibrating the drones. Inform me, what all goes into the setup forward of time?
RB: Numerous the work, nicely, many of the work, occurs beforehand. So our inventive staff has spent most likely a couple of hundred and fifty hours of programming only for this present. A lot work goes on forward of the present, and tonight it’s simply establishing the drones to ensure all the pieces works nicely in the present day.
DG: So far as programming, what are we going to see?
RB: You’re going to see a whole lot of Star Wars.
DG: Do you suppose we’ll see Child Yoda?
RB: There’s an excellent probability that Grogu is up there.
DG: Sure! Superb! And so that you do a bunch of those exhibits. Simply earlier than this you had been on the Dodger’s Sport. I hear you additionally did the Serena Williams child gender reveal present.
RB: We did. We did the Serena Williams child gender. We additionally did the Dodger’s present, which was 1,000 drones. For context, we’re doing 500 tonight. We’ve got one other Star Wars present developing for FC Dallas with 1,000 drones.
DG: Oh my gosh, so that you’re busy! What number of exhibits are you doing every month or every week?
RB: We fly 5-6 exhibits each week, everywhere in the nation. So sure, we’re fairly busy. From Key West to Seattle, Washington to the Caribbean in addition to Hawaii. We’re in every single place.
DG: So do you have got a truck? How do you get drones to all these locations?
RB: So proper behind me is a truck trailer there. The trailer is the most typical method we transport our drones. The first purpose for that’s due to all these lithium batteries. It’s in any other case only a ache to fly twitch them everywhere in the nation.
DG: Flying with drones — and maybe extra critically, flying with LiPo batteries — is sophisticated, so I’m not stunned to listen to you say that.
RB: It’s particularly powerful when your exhibits are massive.
DG: So on that be aware, how does the dimensions of this present evaluate to most drone gentle exhibits?
RB: It is a medium-to-large present. Our common drone is about 300 drones. With 500 drones, that’s a pleasant sized present.
DG: How do I get my very own private drone gentle present, like what Serena acquired?
RB: *Laughs* You may name us, or go to our web site at SkyElementsDrones.com, hit the request button and we’ll get you a quote.
DG: And I most likely must win the lottery to get some cash to do this?
RB: The value of a drone present is pricey nonetheless. It’s greater than fireworks, that’s for positive. That stated, the costs are at all times getting higher. I imply, the value proper now could be half what it was a yr and a half in the past.
DG: It’s changing into extra inexpensive, and it’s additionally extra environmentally pleasant — which I do like that side as nicely.
RB: Little doubt about it. Notably in some states the place there may be fireplace hazard, that may be a nice profit. There’s the truth that these are low noise. We’re not impacting the neighbors, we’re not impacting the pets, and it’s actually we’re leaving no particles behind.
DG: And, we get way more customized, actual designs. I’m personally excited to see Child Grogu tonight.
And similar to that, you possibly can watch their timelapsed model of the present proper right here:
You met Rick Boss, however one of many different geniuses powering Sky Parts is Preston Ward, who serves as the corporate’s chief pilot. Come again to The Drone Lady subsequent week to learn the same Q&A, however with Preston!
