(Photos courtesy of Starlight Aerial Productions)
By Bruce Rolfe
The skies are filled with color and activity each year during Battle Creek’s Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival in Battle Creek, however this year spectators will be treated to a new performance that will not only set the skies aglow, but create memories.
For the first time ever, one of the Field of Flight air shows will feature a “Starlight Spectacular” drone show that will include hundreds of drones July 3 at 10:15 p.m.
The show will be accompanied by a performance from Redline Air Shows.
The 2025 Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival takes place July 2-6 at Executive Airport in Battle Creek (see today’s Xpage 10 for more details).
Starlight Aerial Productions, known for delivering unparalleled entertainment at major events like the NFL, PGA, Kentucky Derby Festival, and prestigious airshows across the United States, will bring their signature choreography and mesmerizing light displays to Battle Creek for a night of unforgettable visual wonder.
Spectators will enjoy a symphony of color and light weaving through the air, forming iconic shapes, animations, and mesmerizing scenes, all synchronized to an immersive musical score. This is aerial artistry like you’ve never seen before.
Matthew Quinn, CEO of Starlight Aerial Productions based out of Coloma, said 200 drones will be used for the Field of Flight Air Show. He said lumenier ARORA drones are used for the company’s performances.
Quinn said many hours of preparation go into each show to deliver a product that will mesmerize the audience. He said it depends on the complexity of each show, however approximately 80 hours of preparation were required for the Battle Creek show.
Quinn said the show will be designed prior to arriving in Battle Creek.
“The flight paths are uploaded to all of the drones and one pilot with one computer controls them all and monitors everything during flight. Imagine viewing the telemetry of 200 aircraft in flight compared to just your aircraft instruments like most pilots do,” said Quinn, who said the number of crew on the ground depends on how many drones are used but at the Battle Creek show there will be one pilot and likely two ground crew members.
The Starlight Aerial Productions CEO adds the Battle Creek show from music start to the end will be about 20-22 minutes.
“Our goal is to create a unique visual experience that leaves audiences in awe. We can’t wait to showcase our aerial artistry to the wonderful people of Battle Creek and make this event truly unforgettable,” said Quinn, who said his company has an agreement with the Detroit Lions.
In 2024 Starlight Aerial Productions was awarded the Platinum Pinnacle Award by the International Council of Airshows for performances in 2024 at Sun N Fun, EAA AirVenture, Capital Airshow, Thunder Over Louisville and Batavia Airshow.
The skies are filled with color and activity each year during Battle Creek’s Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival in Battle Creek, however this year spectators will be treated to a new performance that will not only set the skies aglow, but create memories.
For the first time ever, one of the Field of Flight air shows will feature a “Starlight Spectacular” drone show that will include hundreds of drones July 3 at 10:15 p.m.
The show will be accompanied by a performance from Redline Air Shows.
The 2025 Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival takes place July 2-6 at Executive Airport in Battle Creek (see today’s Xpage 10 for more details).
Starlight Aerial Productions, known for delivering unparalleled entertainment at major events like the NFL, PGA, Kentucky Derby Festival, and prestigious airshows across the United States, will bring their signature choreography and mesmerizing light displays to Battle Creek for a night of unforgettable visual wonder.
Spectators will enjoy a symphony of color and light weaving through the air, forming iconic shapes, animations, and mesmerizing scenes, all synchronized to an immersive musical score. This is aerial artistry like you’ve never seen before.
Matthew Quinn, CEO of Starlight Aerial Productions based out of Coloma, said 200 drones will be used for the Field of Flight Air Show. He said lumenier ARORA drones are used for the company’s performances.
Quinn said many hours of preparation go into each show to deliver a product that will mesmerize the audience. He said it depends on the complexity of each show, however approximately 80 hours of preparation were required for the Battle Creek show.
Quinn said the show will be designed prior to arriving in Battle Creek.
“The flight paths are uploaded to all of the drones and one pilot with one computer controls them all and monitors everything during flight. Imagine viewing the telemetry of 200 aircraft in flight compared to just your aircraft instruments like most pilots do,” said Quinn, who said the number of crew on the ground depends on how many drones are used but at the Battle Creek show there will be one pilot and likely two ground crew members.
The Starlight Aerial Productions CEO adds the Battle Creek show from music start to the end will be about 20-22 minutes.
“Our goal is to create a unique visual experience that leaves audiences in awe. We can’t wait to showcase our aerial artistry to the wonderful people of Battle Creek and make this event truly unforgettable,” said Quinn, who said his company has an agreement with the Detroit Lions.
In 2024 Starlight Aerial Productions was awarded the Platinum Pinnacle Award by the International Council of Airshows for performances in 2024 at Sun N Fun, EAA AirVenture, Capital Airshow, Thunder Over Louisville and Batavia Airshow.
Quinn said in 2024 his company put on over 300 shows.
While his company has put on many drone shows across the country, Quinn said the staff are excited and honored to bring the company’s award winning performance to the Field of Flight event in Battle Creek for the first time.
“Many of us that worked here as kids have attended the Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show. As for myself, it was the first airshow experience where I saw the Thunderbirds for the very first time. It was also the first air show I took my oldest son to as well. This show is much more personal to us and we plan to bring an exciting new element to their airshow,” said Quinn, who said Ken Rieder with Redline Airshows will highlight the coordination and safety with manned and unmanned performances at night during the Battle Creek show.
Quinn adds his company is looking forward to this year’s show being the first of many that Starlight Aerial Productions will be a part of the Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival, which takes place during the July 4 holiday.
“While we can’t give away what we will create in the sky, we can certainly say there will be plenty of patriotic and air show elements displayed hundreds of feet in the sky,” said Quinn, who said Starlight Aerial Productions was formed in 2016.
More on Starlight Aerial Productions can be found at their website and social media links at: https://starlightdroneshows.com
Facebook: @starlightaerial
Instagram: @starlightaerial
(Twitter) X: @starlightaerial
Tiktok: @starlightaerial
