In Monaco, a drone ballet replaces the fireworks for the National Day
196 drones in the Monegasque sky: a 100% ecological show was offered to the public free of charge as a prelude to the 2021 edition of the traditional Prince’s Day.
The appointment was set for 8 p.m. this Thursday, November 18.
Gathered in the sound zone on the side of the North dock, from the Fair Attractions or anywhere in the Principality offering a clear view of the sky, the public awaited this moment announced as unprecedented.
At 8 p.m., the 196 drones took off from the exceptionally closed Place du Palais, for 12 minutes of magical spectacle:
This is the first time that Monegasque society MC-Click achieve such a spectacle on this scale. Specialized in drone shooting, she was entrusted by the Monaco City Hall with an unprecedented mission: to set up a choreography of drones capable of competing with the magic of fireworks, but without the harmful effects. for the environment.
Its immense advantage: the company MC-Click manufactures its own drones by 3D printing. Small devices of 250 grams each, which have little to do with those used for aerial photography.
With the exception of electronic components, they are made with 100% recycled materials, and have a zero carbon footprint both when recharging and flying.
For a period of seven minutes, a traditional fireworks display releases 24,000 g of CO2, and heavy particles. For the same duration of the show, our show rejects … zero.
Erwan Grimaud, responsible for MC-Clic
Controlled by computer, these drones danced to music composed by Ferxel Fourgon (known as the commentator of AS Monaco Basket matches), which makes it a 100% Monegasque creation, visible from afar by the public:
The request made by the town hall of Monaco responded to the Prince’s wish for Monaco’s National Day. Albert II, whose sensitivity to the preservation of the environment is known, was impressed by the first drone ballet he attended in Lausanne for the opening of the Youth Olympic Games in 2020.
Then there was, under the gaze of the whole world, the Tokyo Olympics ceremony last August: more than 1,800 drones representing the Earth, an unforgettable spectacle.
If the formula seduces, and develops, it is not without risk. In China, in Zhengzhou, on October 2, a show went wrong, a successful drone rain on crowd of spectators, None, miraculously, were injured.
So securing devices is a concern for a company like MC-Clic. She specifies that her drones, “smaller and lighter than the average, are also less dangerous in the event of a fall”.
If this first Monegasque drone show is a success, Erwan Grimaud’s goal is not to replace traditional fireworks. “We must manage to mix the offer, to take account of this ecological commitment”.