While some communities are preparing for large fireworks displays for the 4th of July, other communities are making other plans, including drone light shows.
An Oakland entrepreneur is taking his small business to new heights, capitalizing on the growing popularity of drone light shows as an alternative to fireworks displays.
In John Eric Henry’s office on Jack London Square in Oakland, he likes to make 3D animations of things that fly at night.
“This is where the magic happens,” said Henry, owner of Pinnacle Drone Light Shows. “This office used to be called Holodeck [a Star Trek reference]but now it’s called Area 211, in honor of Area 51.”
But instead of building UFOs, Henry likes to build and tell stories by programming and mapping the flight paths of drones.
“Each drone represents a pixel or sphere,” Henry said.
Over the past six years, Henry has slowly grown his drone light show business at a time when cities and states are considering or even abandoning fireworks displays.
“I realize that drone light shows are really the future, especially in areas where fire hazards are high,” said Henry.
This year, the city of Napa decided to switch to a drone light show for its 4th of July celebration, citing fire hazards as one of the factors.
“The potential for red flag warnings, warmer temperatures, drier conditions and high fuel loads from a wet winter have implications as fire season begins,” said Jaina French, community relations manager for the city of Napa.
The city hired Sky Elements Drones, a large Texas manufacturing company, to stage a 400-drone light show at Oxbow Commons on July 4.
French said other factors besides fire concerns played a role in the city’s decision, such as limiting noise pollution for pets and preventing PTSD triggers in veterans.
According to Henry, while business is good, the adoption of drones is slow, with only a handful of companies able to put on large shows that can rival the wow factor of fireworks.
“We’re still in the early stages, but the technology is evolving,” Henry said. “We have a partner overseas who is working on a fireworks-like device on the drones.”
Currently, Henry and his Pinnacle company are working with 200 drones on shows, but that is about to change. He recently visited China, where he wants to build 1,000 drones.
“I went to a drone manufacturer overseas to have them 3D printed,” Henry said. “The goal is to have them flying in time for a big show on New Year’s Eve.”
Pinnacle Drone Light Shows will host a drone show for Oakland’s 4th of July celebration and is also preparing a 201-drone show for the Oakland Roots season finale in October.
The city of Napa kicks off its 4th of July festivities with the annual parade on 2nd and 3rd Street in the morning, with the drone show at Oxbow Commons at 9:30 p.m.
