UPDATE: The drone show scheduled for July 4, 2018, at Travis Air Force Base has been canceled and rescheduled.
Intel released this statement: “We decided to cancel the performance today as a result of high winds that would have interfered with drone flight. Our drones can fly in winds up to 18 miles per hour, but the forecast calls for winds over 30 mph for the time frame we were planning to fly. We emphasize safety in our drone performances, including in our operations, the design of the drones, and the use of systems like geofencing and auto-land contingencies. We felt that canceling the show was the best decision under the circumstances. Our drone light show is rescheduled for 9 p.m. PDT, July 5, pending adequate weather conditions.”
Call it Fourth of July 2.0: Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield will see a drone light show instead of fireworks Wednesday night.
This is the first time Intel’s Shooting Star drones are being used on Independence Day, the Santa Clara company says, although they have been used at the Olympics, the Super Bowl halftime show featuring Lady Gaga, Coachella and more. Intel also showed off its first indoor drone show at last week’s Pride Parade in San Francisco.
For the Travis show, the chipmaker developed a drone light show that uses 500 drones and is synchronized to music. It also has animations that represent the history of Travis Air Force Base. The base is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.
Intel is touting its drone light show as a safer and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional fireworks, especially amid high temperatures and wildfires burning in California this week. Also, it doesn’t involve loud explosions, which may be less scary for small kids and animals.
But there’s a big caveat: If the wind is too strong, the show won’t go on.
“Like with any drone mission, these flights are weather permitting and will be delayed or cancelled if heavy winds restrict us from flying,” said Natalie Cheung, general manager of the light shows, on Tuesday.
The light show will be controlled by one computer and one drone pilot on the ground, she said.
