Sky Elements and Damoda set a world record during a weeklong drone event in Texas, using a total of 71,207 drones. They passed the previous record of 55,939 flights, which Aerial Illuminations and UVify set earlier in 2026. All the shows were controlled from one center in a rural area.
On September 28, 2026, a giant blue dragon formed by 10,183 drones set another record: the largest image of a mythical creature, or a creature from traditional stories. The previous record used 2,247 drones in the United Arab Emirates in late 2025. The program also featured ocean scenes, astronauts, and a lion.
Each performance involved about 10,200 drones, with several flights taking place daily. Sky Elements worked with Damoda America for equipment support. Damoda's engineers in Shenzhen provided special trays that stored and charged the drones. After flying, each drone automatically returned to its own tray. This system reduced the work needed to handle and store thousands of devices.
A storm on September 27 created a serious challenge, but the shows continued as planned through the closing night on September 30. Guinness World Records judge Michael Empric said the weather and repeated daily flights involving more than 10,000 drones made the operation difficult. After the long nights, he found the completion of five successful shows impressive.
