FAA Imposes New Drone Flight Restrictions Amid Northeast Drone Sightings

Public Concerns Over Recent Drone Sightings Prompt Temporary Flight Bans The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has expanded temporary restrictions on drone flights in response to reports of unusual activity in the northeastern United States. On Friday, the FAA announced additional Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) prohibiting drone operations over 30 areas in southern New York and […]

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XTEND Secures $8.8M U.S. Department of Defense Contract for AI-Driven Tactical Drones

New Contract Highlights Smart Loitering Munitions Technology XTEND, a company specializing in AI-powered tactical drone technology, has secured an $8.8 million contract from the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate (IWTSD). The contract focuses on delivering Precision Strike Indoor & Outdoor (PSIO) small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS). A Tactical Advance in […]

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Light show drones for rent? UVify’s new FAB rental system makes it possible

In a move set to make it even easier for teams to put on their own (huge) drone light shows, drone show leader UVify just introduced a new concept offering light show drones for rent.

It’s called the FAB (Fleet Augmentation by UVify) rental system. This model allows members of the UVify IFO network to expand their fleets on demand, enabling them to deliver larger-scale productions without the need for hefty upfront investments. Of course, you must already own some UVify drones to participate in the program.

The UVify IFO is a light show drone famously used by names including Sky Elements, which was a finalist on America’s Got Talent. UVify sells their IFO drones for just over $1,500 per unit.

Want to buy a UVify IFO drone? Mention UVify promo code DGIFO to your UVify sales representative to receive a 5% discount plus an additional free battery and set of high-performance props per IFO. 

And for teams using IFO drones who are continuously seeking to break records for huge drone shows, this makes it possible — without the huge upfront cost. Some of the record-breaking drone shows made possible by UVify IFO drones include that recent Sky Elements drone show with 2,484 IFO drones creating a hummingbird in the sky for IAAPA 2024, and more recently a 5,000 drone Christmas light show (also by Sky Elements) that entailed a massive turkey and a gingerbread village. Watch that one below, right here:

How the FAB rental system works

The FAB system operates on a revenue-share model exclusive to UVify IFO network partners. Here’s how it works:

Fleet augmentation: Imagine you own a fleet of 100 UVify IFO drones but secure a contract requiring 200 drones. Instead of purchasing an additional 100 drones outright, you can rent the extra drones from UVify.

Revenue sharing: For the rented drones, the revenue from the contract is split 50-50 between the operator and UVify. Using the example above, if the contract is valued at $60,000 (at $300 per drone), the operator keeps $45,000 while paying $15,000 to UVify for renting the additional 100 drones.

Scalability: The more drones you rent, the higher the revenue share UVify collects. For instance, if you own 100 drones and need 1,000 for a show, you can rent the additional 900 from UVify, further amplifying your production capabilities.

Advantages of FAB for drone show companies

Of course, it’s likely more economical long term to just fork over the $1,500 per drone. But for drone light show companies who have landed an unusually large contract, the model can make sense. UVify’s FAB system offers several other benefits for operators:

Reduced Capital Costs: Avoid the significant investment required to purchase additional drones for one-off or sporadic large-scale events.

Flexibility: Scale your fleet based on project requirements, allowing you to accept larger contracts without logistical concerns.

Global Accessibility: UVify’s warehouses in the U.S., Europe, and soon the MENA region ensure quick and reliable access to rental drones.

The FAB rental system is an industry first and could fundamentally reshape how drone light show operators approach scalability and profitability. By enabling operators to grow their base fleets incrementally, FAB aligns UVify’s success with that of its partners.

What to know about UVify

Sky Elements drone light show Oakland A's Coliseum
UVify drones are laid out in a grid ahead of a Sky Elements drone show. Photo by Sally French

UVify famously builds the IFO light show drones, which are built in South Korea. UVify sells a turnkey solution, where your purchase includes all hardware, software and 24/7 support. Of course, that also unlocks access to UVify’s FAB rental network.

The drones are some of the most powerful out there. Key specs include a waterproof rating of IP43, win speed resistance of up to 20 m/s (45 mph) and 26-minute flight times. The drones weigh 682 grams and their dimensions are 275x275x120 mm, which is somewhat comparable to something like the DJI Air 3S drone.

They even sell pyro drones.

Order the UVify IFO today, and don’t forget to mention UVify promo code DGIFO to your UVify sales representative to receive a 5% discount plus an additional free battery and set of high-performance props per IFO. 

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Kalashnikov Buckshot: ‘Worse Than Nothing’ Against Drones?

New videos on Russian social media analyzed in detail at The Armourer’s Bench website provide a do-it-yourself guide for creating anti-drone buckshot rounds for the ubiquitous AK-74 assault rifle. This seems to be something of a trend, which is not surprising when infantry combat is rare and drone attacks are frequent. Ukraine has fielded more […]