Drone News Roundup: Christmas Drone Light Show Goes for Two Guinness Records, New Helion Drone for Long Range Cinematic FPV, and More!

This week we’re covering a Christmas drone light show from Sky Elements aimed at winning two different Guinness Records.

We’re also covering a new long range FPV drone from 2RAW called the Helion, a beautiful tour of Australia by drone, news that PrecisionHawk has filed for bankruptcy, and PDW’s C100 heavy-lift drone being added to the Blue UAS list.

Now let’s get to those links!

Christmas Drone Light Show Aims to Win Two Guinness Records

U.S.-based drone light show company Sky Elements recently put on an epic Nutcracker-themed light show for Christmas. The show included over 1,500 drones, which were used to form “a beautiful Christmas tree and lights, as well as the famous battle between the Nutcracker and the Rat King . . . the lovely Sugar Plum Fairy, and the jolly Santa Claus.” Sky Elements is at the top of its game with this one. But the show was not only impressive, it was also an attempt to win two Guinness World Records—one for Largest Aerial Image and one for Largest Fictional Character.

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2RAW’s New Helion Drone Focuses on Long Range for FPV

2RAW recently unveiled the Helion, a lightweight FPV drone made for flying long range cinematic missions. The drone’s unique frame was designed to balance stability, weight, and rigidity, allowing pilots to fly longer to get the FPV shots they want, even when flying in high winds. The Helion has a prop size of 10″ and can carry larger batteries (2RAW recommends 4500mAh Lipo and above). According to 2RAW, the new drone has “better dive recovery and more overall control than traditional long-range drones.” Check out this promo video to learn more about the Helion.

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My Australia

From stunning shots of red rock buttes, to sandy beaches, to sweeping landscapes and portraits of kangaroos, this drone tour of Australia provides a sweeping, heartfelt journey across the wilder parts of the continent jokingly referred to as the place “where everything can kill you.” The video, which was created by cinematographer and Australian native Chris Tangey, is masterfully edited and shot. According to the video’s description, Tangey “left Australia’s cities, forever, 30 years ago.” Looking at his incredible footage of the natural beauty found there, we can understand why.

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PrecisionHawk Files for Bankruptcy

PrecisionHawk has filed for bankruptcy. The company currently has $17 million in debt, including a quarter million owed in rent for its headquarters, and reportedly just $3.4 million in assets. Only a few months back, PrecisionHawk was acquired by a European company called Field Group, which provides data analysis solutions for sectors like construction and infrastructure. The company’s closing will likely put dozens of skilled drone professionals out of work—something to note if you’re looking to hire new talent in the drone industry.

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Blue UAS List Adds PDW’s C100 Heavy-Lift Drone

The C100, a portable heavy-lift drone made by PDW, has been added to the Pentagon’s Blue UAS list. The vetting process for inclusion in the Blue UAS program is exhaustive and reportedly pretty expensive, requiring companies to undergo rigorous security testing and demonstrations. The C100 has a flight time of up to 74 minutes and a payload capacity of 15 pounds. It’s designed to provide “targeting, signals intelligence, direct effects, and last mile resupply” in combat zones. In developing the C100, PDW conducted extensive R&D that involved leaders in the drone industry, drone experts, and veterans of U.S. armed forces.

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