In 2012, the first-ever drone light show was held at the Ars Electronica Futurelab in Linz, Austria, introducing the world to SPAXELS (short for space elements). Soon thereafter, Intel started producing the Shooting Star drone. These small drones with LED lights could be programmed to work in small swarms, animating images in the night sky. The technology behind drones like the Shooting Star has come a long way since Intel first made them popular, and now drone light shows have become a standard feature for many nighttime aerial entertainment events.

One of the biggest drone light show companies in the world is Sky Elements, based out of Fort Worth, TX. The company was founded in 2020 by startup entrepreneur Rick Boss along with a dedicated team of drone experts. The company rose to national fame when it appeared on episode 2 of season 19 of the hit show America’s Got Talent (AGT) on June 4, 2024. The show’s judges and a live audience gathered outside to witness Sky Elements’ drone show audition featuring 1,000 drones animated to music, filling the night sky. The audition was so impressive that head judge Simon Cowell broke the rules and hit the Golden Buzzer for the second time, sending Sky Elements directly to the finals. “I think drones can either be annoying, particularly when they’re on their own, or in this case, just the most unbelievable thing,” Simon said. “I mean, it sounds boring, and then I look up, and I’m like, oh my god, this is incredible.”

When Sky Elements auditioned for AGT, they had already set one Guinness World Record for being the company to produce the most drone shows over a single weekend: the July 4th, 2023 weekend. Ultimately, Sky Elements came in third place in the competition, but it was truly a launching point for the company’s future, which has gone on to grow exponentially in a very short amount of time. Rick said that in the aftermath of the show, the company grew by 60%, forcing him and his partner, Chief Pilot Preston Ward, to quit their day jobs and dedicate all of their time to producing the best drone light shows. With 16 full-time employees and $6.2 million in revenue, Sky Elements travels around the world with its amazing drone light shows.

In November 2024, Sky Elements broke its 10th Guinness World Record at the IAAPA EXPO 2024. The drone show was an imaginative story of a boy exploring the world with a hummingbird. The hummingbird was animated by 2,484 drones, setting the record for the Largest Aerial Display of a Bird Formed by Multi-Rotors/Drones. A week later, Sky Elements was at it again, gaining their 11th Guinness World Record. The holiday-themed show took place in Mansfield, TX, featuring 5,000 drones animating a giant turkey, winter wonderland images, and, of course, Santa to close the show. The 11th Guinness World Record was for the show’s Largest Aerial Display of a Gingerbread Village Made out of Drones. In a press release, Sky Elements described the record-breaking scene: “A surreal gingerbread village takes formation with candy cane street lamps and gumdrop rooftops. Brick and mortar made of gingerbread and frosting build up the town to create an enchanted landscape. The sun sets on the cozy winter village as lights illuminate the homes and smoke billows out of the chimneys.”

Making Sky Elements’ visions a reality is a collaboration with UVify. The San Francisco, CA based company builds the drones and the swarm technology that Sky Elements relies on to make their drone shows the best in the world. “We teamed up to create holiday cheer in a new, fun way: by making the largest gingerbread village, made entirely of drones!” Preston said of the collaboration. “Not only did we spread the holiday spirit, but we also scored our 11th Guinness World Record while we were at it!” Meanwhile, Robert Cheek, COO of UVify, said, “Today’s achievement is a testament to the incredible innovation and dedication of the entire UVify team. We are thrilled to have partnered with Sky Elements to push the boundaries of what’s possible with drone technology and create a truly unforgettable experience.” Sky Elements says they can’t wait to continue pushing the boundaries with drone technology and are looking forward to setting more world records soon. With their unwavering passion and dedication to innovation, Sky Elements is not just breaking records, they are redefining the possibilities of aerial entertainment and inspiring audiences worldwide.

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