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Rietberger Himmelsleuchten 25

At Rietberger Himmelsleuchten, SMIA flew the first officially approved drone show in Germany to combine fireworks adapted to the drones with conventional fireworks. 350 drones presented a purpose-built show design for the first time. The permit came about through direct dialogue with the aviation authorities.


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Rietberger Himmelsleuchten 2025: Germany’s first approved pyro drone show

At Rietberger Himmelsleuchten 2025, SMIA flew the first officially approved drone show in Germany to use fireworks adapted to the drones, combined with conventional fireworks. 350 X1 drones were in the air.

What “approved” means here

Pyrotechnics on flying drones is not a standard case in Germany. There is no form for it. The permit came about through direct dialogue with the authorities, and it was the real feat: three days remained between clearance and delivery.

In the background, the Verge Aero partner meeting was running at the same time. The European colleagues were on site anyway, so the show came together jointly.

Away from the motif list

Conventional drone shows line up motifs one after another: an image, dissolve, next image. In Rietberg it worked differently. The elements interlocked, the backdrop kept changing rather than thinking in chapters.

This is more demanding, because every transition has to be designed in itself instead of simply fading out. In return, a narrative emerges rather than a sequence of images.

The fireworks system in practice

Fireworks adapted to drones means: every ignition depends on a device that also has to fly. The integrated system withstood the load, even when smaller obstacles came up. Safety here was not a section in the concept but the condition for the permit in the first place.

Facts

  • Rietberger Himmelsleuchten 2025, third edition
  • Premiere: first approved pyro drone show in Germany
  • 350 X1 drones
  • Fireworks adapted to the drones combined with conventional fireworks
  • Design: a fluid, narrative show without a rigid motif sequence
  • Verge Aero partner meeting on site at the same time
  • Three days from permit to show

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