drones

Sky Elements soars into America’s Got Talent Finals — and we’ll be there live

Posted by Dronerator

Sky Elements, the drone show performers that have for years now had the hearts of the Drone Girl team, has now captured the hearts of pretty much all of America. Sky Elements is one of a rare crop of performers to have made it to the final round of America’s Got Talent Season 19.

And the team, led by Chief Pilot Preston Ward, is set to take the stage in the America’s Got Talent finals on Tuesday, September 17. The show will air live, where it’s recorded at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium near Los Angeles, California.

Sky Elements is certainly vying for the $1 million prize, but the drone light show company’s impressive run on the show has been about far more than just that. Here’s the inside scoop on the America’s Got Talent drone show — and what you need to know ahead of the Sept. 17 finale:

The ultimate guide to Sky Elements and their performance on America’s Got Talent

The Sky Elements AGT run, so far

Sky Elements America's Got Talent Season 19 Simon Cowell Astronaut
Image courtesy of Sky Elements

Sky Elements has long been putting on drone light shows all around America. You might have seen one, as they play out at prominent locations like baseball stadiums and rodeos. In fact, Sky Elements put on my first-ever in-person drone show, an Oakland Athletics Star Wars Light Show. Their drones have appeared on national TV before, such as for the Grammy Awards.

Sky Elements is largely considered the biggest drone show company in the U.S. It’s even one of the biggest drone show companies in the world.

The America’s Got Talent audition

But Sky Elements got a big boost on June 4, 2024 when it appeared on Episode 2 of America’s Got Talent Season 19, which was one of the audition episodes. That audition in itself was quite unique because drones flew in the skies over Pasadena, rather than inside the audition studio— as most other acts do.

Performing at Quarter Finals

Not only did Sky Elements get past the audition phase, but — once on the show — their 1,000 drone show nabbed the Golden Buzzer from Simon Cowell. That show recreated scenes from the moon landing. Perhaps Simon was delighted by the anonymous astronaut performing the spacewalk who turned out to be, well, Simon Cowell himself.

Watch that show here:

From there, the shows kept continuing. Sky Elements put on a show for the Quarter Finals, this one circus-themed. The faces of the judges appeared in the sky, each as a different type of circus performer. That included Terry Crews as the ringmaster, Sofia Vergara as a trapeze artist, Howie Mandel as a magician and Heidi Klum as a fire breather.

Check out that episode here:

And while America was already captivated by the drone shows, Sky Elements proved their emotional prowess as much as their technical know-how in what might have been their best show yet.

An emotional Semi-Finals performance

During the semi-finals, Sky Elements put on a drone show that told the story of Chief Pilot Preston Ward and his infant daughter, named Briley Rose, who tragically passed away in 2020. Set to the song “Butterfly”, which was by another AGT finalist, Lily Meola, the drone show expressed Preston’s grief and optimism through imagery like butterflies and a rose. I personally felt chills during the ending, which had drones create the shape of a phoenix in the sky.

Image courtesy of Sky Elements.

With that show, there was hardly a dry eye. And also with it, audiences nationwide voted to send Sky Elements to the Finals. That’s what we’ll see on Tuesday night.

But if there’s one thing you see between now and then, you must watch (or re-watch) the touching Butterfly show:

Why Sky Elements on AGT matters so much

Sky Elements has consistently delivered breathtaking displays of aerial choreography, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with drones. Their ability to synchronize multiple drones, creating intricate patterns and formations, is truly mesmerizing.

It’s a first-of-its-kind act to make it this far

Not only did Sky Elements showcase drones as creative entertainment — but their performances have given AGT something more than the more “expected” acts like dance troupes, magicians and singers. This is the first time we’ve ever seen a drone light show make it this far on America’s Got Talent.

Now this technically isn’t the first drone light show on America’s Got Talent. In fact, Verge Aero appeared briefly on the show back in 2022 as part of a version called “AGT:Extreme!”. That spinoff version of the show focuses on talents like stunt performances. Judge Simon Cowell gave Vero Aero a Golden Buzzer back then (as he did with Sky Elements this season).

Verge Aero famously builds the Verge Aero Composer software, which is a fairly simple drag-and-drop software so you can design your own custom drone show. Watch the 2022 Verge Aero performance here:

We’ve also seen some smaller-scale uses of drones on America’s Got Talent. For example, way back in 2016, a tiny fleet of drones flew in tandem with human performers on stage in an act by Japanese multimedia dance troupe Elevenplay.

Drones get a better name

As a dedicated drone enthusiast, I’ve been eagerly awaiting Sky Elements to get national recognition. Drones have long had a negative connotation in areas like spying or data security. Sky Elements deserves massive credit for making America see drones as beautiful, witty, creative and emotional.

Image courtesy of Sky Elements.

Drones get a personality

Earlier shows like the circus performance were highly entertaining. But especially in the last “Butterfly” performance, drones took on an incredibly emotional act.

Sky Elements is not the only drone show company out there. But perhaps why Sky Elements made it to ATG as opposed to other shows is their ability to tell stories through movement and light. Each single contributes to a larger narrative, their choreography is always visually stunning and emotionally resonant.

That Verge Aero show in 2022 was certainly impressive, but it didn’t have the connection that Sky Elements has.

Chief Pilot used his art to tell his own, deeply personal and sad story — and it’s something many who have lost a loved one can relate too. It’s this very human element that sets them apart from other drone show companies out there.

“Who knew that drones could make you so emotional? That was a surprise. That was so beautiful,” said judge Sofia Vergara in reference to the “Butterfly” performance.

Related read: How much does a drone light show cost?

What to expect from the America’s Got Talent finale with Sky Elements

Tune in to NBC on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET to watch the finale, which will feature other acts including standup comedian Learnmore Jonasi, singer Richard Goddall, dog and owner dance duo Roni Sagi & Rhythm and quick-change magician Solange Kardinaly.

What can we expect from the final Sky Elements performance on America’s Got Talent? While the specific details are under wraps, Sky Elements has revealed the title for the final show, which is “The American Dream.”

I’m confident that Sky Elements will raise the bar even higher. Based on their previous performances, we can anticipate a stunning blend of technology, artistry, and emotion. I’ll be there in-person at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium to witness the show myself.

America’s Got Talent tapes live at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in California. Image courtesy of City of Pasadena.

Now you don’t necessarily have to make up your mind on who you’ll vote for until the live show actually happens on Tuesday night. But if your mind is made up (and yes, I’ll admit mine is), make sure you vote. The America’s Got Talent rules limit votes to 10 per person — and you can bet I’ll be giving my 10 to Sky Elements.

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Curious about how to put on your own drone light show? Check out either the Drone Dojo light show kit, which you can unlock with a Blue Belt Membership. Or, consider the Drone Blocks light show drone kit, which costs about $7,500. Check out the Drone Blocks drone show kit review.

The post Sky Elements soars into America’s Got Talent Finals — and we’ll be there live appeared first on The Drone Girl.

Peregrine Rotary Wing UAS Conducts Initial Royal Navy Flying Trials from HMS Lancaster

Posted by Dronerator
In late August, 700X Naval Air Squadron conducted the first flying trials of the Peregrine RWAUS from HMS Lancaster in the Gulf of Oman. Secured under the Future Tactical Uncrewed Air System (FTUAS) programme, the RN selected the Schiebel S-100 Camcopter as the basis for Peregrine. The aircraft will be equipped with the Thales I-Master […]

Ukraine Repurposes Quadcopter Drone to Fire Soviet-Era RPG-18 Anti-Tank Missiles

Posted by Dronerator
Ukraine has now developed a drone capable of firing anti-tank missiles, further advancing its innovative warfare techniques.The country has outfitted a quadcopter drone with a Soviet-era RPG-18 Mukha anti-tank missile launcher. Undergoing Testing In a video circulated on social media, Ukraine was seen conducting a flight test of this anti-tank unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). It […]

US Army Selects Anduril and PDW for Company Level sUAS Requirement for Brigade Combat Teams

Posted by Dronerator
The U.S. Army has announced the selection of the Anduril Industries Ghost X and the Performance Drone Works C-100 UAS to meet the Army’s Company-Level Small Uncrewed Aircraft System Directed Requirement. This award is for Tranche 1 of the DR with a value of $14.417M using the Defense Logistics Agency’s Tailored Logistics Support 10-Year Indefinite […]

Russia Produces Kamikaze Drone with Chinese Engine

Posted by Dronerator
Russia started producing a new long-range attack drone called the Garpiya-A1 last year using Chinese engines and parts, which it has deployed in the war in Ukraine, according to two sources from a European intelligence agency and documents seen by Reuters. The intelligence – which included a production contract for the new drone, company correspondence […]

Innovative UAV Patent Aims to Protect Wildlife from Becoming Roadkill

Posted by Dronerator

Kumoh Institute of Technology’s drone-based system coordinates with ground vehicles to prevent animal crossings and reduce roadkill, potentially saving millions of animals worldwide. by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNab The South Korean research and development university Kumoh Institute of Technology recently applied for a new patent for an innovative use of UAVs- keeping wildlife […]

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A2Z Transforms from Manufacturer to Drone-Network-as-a-Service Provider

Posted by Dronerator

New AirDock and Longtail Products Enable Scalable, Shared Infrastructure for Drone Delivery and Public Service Operations By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill With its recent introduction of a suite of new products, A2Z Drone Delivery, which until recently had been known exclusively as a drone manufacturing company, is transforming itself into a drone-network-as-a-service provider as […]

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Matternet Receives Swiss Certification for Advanced Drone Operations

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Company granted first Light UAS Operator Certificate for higher-risk BVLOS flights Matternet has achieved a significant milestone in its efforts to expand drone delivery operations across Europe. The Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) has granted Matternet the first-ever Light UAS Operator Certificate (LUC) for higher-risk operations, allowing the company to perform beyond visual […]

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How much can I charge to shoot vineyard aerial imagery?

Posted by Dronerator

As the Drone Girl, I’m always getting questions from new pilots! This one is about launching a business shooting vineyard aerial imagery. To help me answer this one, I’ve enlisted the help of Patrick Sherman. Like me, he’s a long-time drone enthusiast who has risen to become a professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University specializing in, you guessed it, drones! 

One reader wrote in to say: I’m running a new drone business and recently did some pro bono work for a vineyard who now wants to pay me! The only issue: I have no idea how much to charge. Our original agreement was mutual ownership of the imagery I captured so that I could use it for promotional use. I was already on-site and just asked the owner if they were interested, so no travel costs incurred. Any help is appreciated!

Patrick Sherman, who is also the author of the book “Getting Started with Drones and Model Airplanes” knows a thing or two about launching a drone business. Given that, I asked him to help me answer this question.

Here was his response (and if you want more of his insights, grab a copy of his book today!):

Congratulations on your new business and especially on the fact that one of your customers has volunteered to pay you! That’s a terrific feeling and a sure sign that you’re doing something right. To be sure, what to charge is an extremely difficult question to answer – and one that I myself struggle with whenever I do freelance work. I’m honestly terrible at deciding how much I’m worth and then asking for it.

I guess I would have three suggestions for you in this case:

1. Know your worth (and personal costs)

Take a clear-eyed look at what it will cost you to do the work and what your time is worth. Every time you fly, you put your aircraft at risk, along with anything below it. As a small business owner, you should have liability insurance at the very least. If you have the misfortune to drop an aircraft on a person, the cost can be huge. That’s a burden you don’t want to shoulder alone. So, you want to be able to cover the cost of insurance, set aside money for a new aircraft down the road, along with the supplies that it takes to keep your current aircraft flying.

And, of course, your time is worth something. No doubt you’re working as a freelancer, which means at the end of the year your tax rate on that income will be effectively double what it is when you draw a salary from a full-time employer. Finally, remember that you are a professional who brings their own equipment to the job site. What does a dentist or an electrician charge on an hourly basis? If all of this sounds like it’s going to add up to a pretty big number, you’re not wrong…

2. Factor in the laws of supply and demand

You need to ask what the market will bear. The law of supply and demand still holds, even in the futuristic world of drone services. You may want to charge $500 an hour to fly, but if other drone operators with comparable skills and equipment are willing to do it for $100 an hour, you’re not likely to find many customers. So, do some research. Find out what other drone companies in your area are charging and price yourself accordingly.

Keep in mind that drones are new and sexy, which means that the field is crowded with people who want to be part of the industry. This can create irrational downward pressure on hourly rates. After all, people are so desperate for work that they will actually charge less than is required to make a living doing the job.

My wife owned her own video production business for decades. Every few years a new crop of companies would enter the market. When they couldn’t make enough money to cover the cost of their expensive equipment, they would start slashing their rates just to get work. The result? Revenues were depressed across the entire industry.

3. Just ask

Of course, I’ve not been present during your discussions with your prospective employer. Thus, I can’t speak to your relationship with them. However, if it’s a good one, you might just be honest and say you’re not sure what to charge. Seek their advice! The downside is that they aren’t going to bankrupt themselves paying you a price of their own choosing. But, if there are good and honest people who respect you – which it sounds like they do because they volunteered to pay you – they might be willing to give you some good advice, along with some money.

Best of luck on your new venture!

-Patrick Sherman

Whether your field is vineyard aerial imagery or not, are you starting out as a remote pilot? Do you have other questions you’d like Patrick to answer? The chances are that he already has answered it! Check out his new book, “Getting Started with Drones and Model Airplanes.” It’s published by Aviation Supplies & Academics, which is the leading publisher of aviation-related books in the U.S. Copies are available on Amazon! If you have a question for Drone Girl, contact her here.

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