What's New?
Check back often to stay informed of the latest COBRA updates. We will be updating this page with new information, such as website announcements, stock availability, trade show information, client shows and more!
COBRA Swag Package! - Oct. 1st
COBRA Swag Package!
Introducing the COBRA Swag Package!
We have assembled our best selling swag and apparel products into one large bundle. For a limited time, this package has been marked down 40% to only $44.99.
Contents include:
- Thump Junkie Poster
- No Black Sky Poster
- Choice of Orange or Black T-Shirt
- Choice of Knit Hat or Baseball Hat
- Choice of Decal Set 1 or Decal Set 2
- Neck Lanyard
COBRA Approved USB Drive Released! - Sept. 27th
COBRA Approved USB Drive Released!
We are delighted to announce we have released a certified COBRA USB drive for use with COBRA equipment. In some cases, other USB drives may cause performance issues. We suggest only using this USB drive for optimal performance.
36S Now Available! - Sept. 18th
36S Now Available!
We are incredibly excited to debut our newest product line, the 36S Slat!
This is a 36 cue slat meant for situations where you want to utilize a large number of cues in a position. The slat connects via a Centronic 50 connector and is compatible with Pro-Adapt Plates that have one, including the Pro-Adapt Plate for 36M (2 x 18S, 1 x 36S), the 36M with Onboard Cues, and the 72M with Onboard Cues.
The slat is available in a regular size, mini, as well as built in a side-exiting armored case.
We are also launching several other products to support these including cables, covers, shunts, and adapters, and module packages that include 36S slats You can find a full list of the new products below.
Armored Case
Module
Slat
Cables
- 1M (3.25ft.) Centronic 50 Heavy Duty Slat Cable
- 5M (16.5ft.) Centronics 50 Slat Cable
- 10M (33ft.) Centronics 50 Slat Cable
- 15M (50ft.) Centronics 50 Slat Cable
- 25M (82ft.) Centronics 50 Slat Cable
- 8" Centronics Right to Straight Adapter
Shunt
Pro-Adapt Plates
- Pro-Adapt Plate for 36M (2 x 18S, 1 x 36S)
- Pro-Adapt Plate for 72M (4 x 18S)
- Pro-Adapt Plate for 36M w/ Onboard Cues
- Pro-Adapt Plate for 72M (2 x 36S)
Shipping & Availability Hub Has Been Added! - Jun. 27th
Shipping & Availability Hub Has Been Added!
We have added new web section with the intent to provide more up to date information on shipping, lead times, and availability. You can find the below information on this page
- Equipment Availability
- Out of Stock Items
- Available Shipping Methods
- FedEx Groud Shipping Regions
36M & 72M Critical Firmware Update! - Jun. 11th
36M & 72M Critical Firmware Update
We discovered two minor issues in the current 5.0.2 BETA firmware for the 36M and 72M. It is important that you update your current devices in order to avoid any issues. Please find an explanation of the issues below and how to update your devices. Please note that this issue is on the 36M and 72M only.
Issue #1: The 36M and 72M may not show continuity if the internal temperature exceeds around 110°F or 43°C. For example, this can occur in ambient temperatures as low as 80°F or 27°C when the unit is exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods of time. Please note that even though the 36M and 72M would not show continuity, this would not prohibit the unit from firing. This firmware update will fix this issue.
Issue #2: The 36M and 72M may not show continuity for certain Talon igniter clips due to having a higher resistance value. This has been resolved as continuity will now display for those Talons. This could occur in as high as 20% of Talons. This patch release will fix this issue.
How to fix?
To fix the device, please perform the following steps:
- Download the 90m.s19 and save to a USB drive
- Insert the USB drive into your 36M or 72M.
- Hold SYNC and turn the key to the TEST or ARM position. Red LEDs
will light side to side. Once complete, restart the device. The
device is now running 5.0.3.
If you have any questions, please contact us at ssmith@cobrafiringsystems.com.
Quick Informational Videos Added! - Apr. 27th
Quick Informational Videos Added!
We have uploaded a trio of quick informational videos today:
18R2 and 18M Detailed Demonstration Released! - Apr. 16th
18R2 and 18M Detailed Demonstration Released!
Scott and Joel have been hard at work the last few weeks in our secret COBRA film studio producing the first video in a new series of detailed demonstration videos. This first video is a deep dive into both the 18R2 and 18M. The video is broken down into chapters and timestamped as well, so check it out!
Tech Specs on Core Equipment Have Been Updated! - Apr. 4th
Tech Specs on Core Equipment Have Been Updated!
We have updated our technical specifications tab for all core equipment. Please find a list of updated products below:
Drawings Have Been Added to all LiPo Chargers! - Mar. 7th
Drawings Have Been Added to All Lipo Chargers!
36M with Onboard Cues Now Available in Orange Case! - Mar. 2nd
36M with Onboard Cues Now Available in Orange Case!
Announcing COBRA Posters! - Feb. 27th
Announcing COBRA Posters!
Today we are announcing the start of a line of COBRA Posters. We currently have two different posters available, Thump Junkie & No Black Sky. Put them on your wall today!
Remote Holsters Now Available! - Feb. 20th
Remote Holsters Now Available!
Introducing Ten Module Chargers! - Feb. 7th
Introducing Ten Module Chargers!
Test Bulbs, Module Box, and Audio Box Buttons Added! - Feb. 7th
Test Bulbs, Module Box, and Audio Box Buttons Added!
We have added a few replacement items, as well as test bulbs! We included links to products added below:
Show Checklists / System Maintenance Section Added! - Feb. 7th
Show Checklists / System Maintenance Section Added!
We have added a new section containing a series of checklists, maintenance and pre-show procedures:
- Equipment Preparation Checklist
- Make sure all equipment is properly prepared and checked before a show.
- Pre-show Checklist
- Ensure that all equipment functionality is verified prior to shooting your show.
- 18R2 Scripted Dry Run Checklist
- Perform a dry run of a scripted show.
- Common Troubleshooting
- Common troubleshooting issues per device.
- Show Problem - Next Steps
- Provides instructions on the steps to take after any type of issue on your show. Issues can be caused by the operator, equipment, environment, or other factors.
- Equipment Annual Maintenance
- Best practices for annual maintenance of your COBRA equipment.
Tablet Recomendations added to Control Panel - Jan. 9th
Tablet Recomendations added to Control Panel
We are excited to announce that we have added a comprehensive list of tablet recommendations to our COBRA Control Panel product page. Be sure to check these out if you are in the market for a tablet and want some direction in choosing a device. For any other specific questions on tablets, please be sure to reach out to us at jrobinson@cobrafiringsystems.com.
Control Panel 2.0.4 BETA Update - Dec. 28th
Control Panel 2.0.4 BETA Update!
The COBRA 2.0.4 BETA release is a minor patch release for the COBRA firmware version 5.0.0 and 5.0.2.
- Added support for the Samsung View 18.4"
- Fixed incorrect address display issue for 36M
- Fixed crash report when loading on specific devices
Drawings have been added to all DB25 Cables - Dec. 14th
Drawings Have Been Added to All DB25 Cables
Introducing a New Talon Size: 6M (18ft) - Dec. 12th
Introducing a New Talon Size: 6M (19.5 ft)
COBRA Baseball Hat Now Available - Nov. 27th
COBRA Baseball Hat Now Available!
This is Betty, our office model. Betty looks fly in her COBRA hat. Be like Betty.
We are thrilled to announce that the COBRA Baseball Hat is now available for purchase! Boasting an adjustable velcro strap, pre-frayed brim, as well as a fabric back, this hat will be the envy of the shoot site.
18M Airburst Cue Strip Now Available - Oct. 31st
18M Airburst Cue Strip Now Available!
We are excited to announce that we have just released our RJ11 Airburst Cue Strip!
This cue strip is designed to allow your module to fire Airbursts. Airbursts typically come as a set of three effects, pre-wired into an RJ11 harness. Each kit includes one cue strip with two separate RJ11 female connectors.
You can install one or more cue strips per module. If you are using a Slat Connector, you will only be able to install these cue strips in the first and second bays. Installation is simple, only a screwdriver is required.
New Decals - Oct. 18th
New Decals!
We have been hard at work in the COBRA Art Lab creating a second series of our decals we know you have all come to love. You can find them along with COBRA apparel on our Stickers / COBRA Swag page.
The 36M has Landed - Oct. 10th
The 36M has Landed!
We have officially released the 36M firing module for sale and immediate shipment!
One of the benefits of the 36M is it's ability to use varying Pro-Adapt plates to support different connection methods. We will be offering a number of options in the coming months. For our initial rollout, we are focusing on the large armored case with on board speaker terminals, and a version that supports 2 x 18S slats or a single 36 cue slat. We plan to release this 36 cue slat soon. Other options will include a side exit SE-300 case, quick plug support, mini 6 cue slats including CAT-5 cable support, and more. Any 36M can use a different Pro-Adapt plate by simply removing the plate and plugging in another.
The 36M comes with a standard LiPo, external power and still supports 9V batteries in a pinch. In addition, we have added an LCD screen for displaying channel, address, battery levels, signal and more without having to rely on a boot up process.
We will be offering $50 off for the next week for each type of module with limited availability.
36M with 18S Slats - $549 USD
36M with Onboard Cues and Slat Support - $599 USD
More New Replacement Parts - Sept. 25th
More New Replacement Parts!
We have performed another round of adding new replacement parts for modules, remotes, and more. You can browse all parts on our new Replacement Parts category page. We plan to continue adding more parts in the weeks to come. We also have included a list of parts added below.
Armored Case
Audio Box
Module
Remote
Slat
New Replacement Parts - Sept. 7th
New Replacement Parts!
We are happy to announce we have added replacement parts for modules, remotes, and more to our site. You can browse all parts on our new Replacement Parts category page. We plan to continue adding more parts in the weeks to come. We also have included a list of parts offered below.
Armored Case
Audio Box
Booster
Module
Remote
Slat
Thunder & Fire, PGI 2018, Mason City Iowa! - Aug. 30th
Thunder & Fire, PGI 2018, Mason City Iowa!
COBRA was thrilled to again be involved in the 2018 Pyrotechnics Guild International Convention. We spent our days in the trade show, speaking to current clients, educating future clients and performing service and upgrades. With eight trade shows tables and six team members, there was never a slow moment at our booth. Any clients that stopped by were lucky enough to see a glimpse at some of our upcoming product releases including the Command Center, 6M, Quickplugs, 36 Cue Centronics Slats, and our COBRA Reprogramming Software.
The sound of the 5:00 PM salute booming out across the convention center marked the end of the trade show and the beginning of our evening. We have compiled the details of a few shows that were fired with COBRA below:
| Title | Shooter | Club | 18R2 | Audio Box | Control Panel | Channels |
| Dominator Product Demo | Ed Vassel | Dominator Fireworks | 1 | No | No | 8 |
| Flashing Thunder | Katie Mostek | Flashing Thunder | 1 | 1 | No | 89 |
| Junior Pyrotechnics Association (JPA) 2018 | JPA | Junior Pyrotechnics Association (JPA) | 1 | 1 | Yes | 38 |
| Napalm Strike | Bill Corbett | Fireball Dudes | 1 | 1 | No | 2 |
| SUPERNUKE | Bill Corbett | Fireball Dudes | 1 | 1 | No | 5 |
| The Greatest Show on Earth | Dan Haines | Spirit of 76 | 1 | 1 | Yes | 74 |
Spring Update! - May. 14th
Spring Update!
When we last left our Dynamic Duo in late April, Joel and Jonah had just returned from a successful MAFF. They have been incredibly busy since them, hitting a different event every weekend!
First, they drove down to Harrisville in Western PA for the annual Kellner's Demo. They set up a small booth in the store and offered support and firmware upgrades to existing clients, and demos to new clients. Over 40 modules and 10 remotes were brought in to be upgraded!
The next weekend, the pair flew out to Pahrump, Nevada for Red Apple's Demo Night. They set up a small booth in the front of the store for upgrades and demos. They also scripted a small finale with about 25 consumer effects for the end of the firework product demo.
Finally, last weekend, the twosome took a slightly shorter flight to Monroe, Michigan for another Red Apple Demo Night, this time at Motor City Fireworks. They set up a small booth by the checkouts and, you guessed it, provided support/upgrades and product demos to clients and potential clients. They also assisted in the setup of a 7-minute pyromusical that was shot using 14 modules, an 18R2, and an Audio Box.
Despite all that was going on, Jonah and Joel both managed to find time to take some great pictures for us to share.
MAFF 2018! - Apr. 24th
MAFF 2018!
Over the weekend of April 20th, Joel, Jonah, Ryan, and Mike took the long drive from COBRA headquarters in upstate NY to the annual MAFF event in Charlotte Hall, MD. We arrived in town Friday evening, had some delicious Mexican grub at Pancho Villa and promptly retired to bed to be well rested for Saturday. Once we arrived on site, we handed out pre-orders, talked to clients, performed some repair and service work, and had a great morning in the beautiful weather. Once the afternoon rolled around, Joel and Ryan walked the shoot site offering assistance to any clients that wanted it, but nearly all of our awesome customers were incredibly prepared and knowledgeable, so there was little help to offer!
When shoot time came, Joel supervised from the shooting position and we are happy to report that all shows fired flawlessly. We wanted to share some background on these shows:
| Shooter | Club | 18R2 | Audio Box | Control Panel | Modules | |
| Kens Dedication | Ken Garafalo | 1 | 1 | Yes | 20 | |
| NLPC 10th Anniversary Pyromusical | Joe Carp | NLPC | 1 | 1 | Yes | 49 |
| MAFF - SD&R style | Brian Craig | NLPC & NEOPG | 1 | 1 | Yes | 85 |
| MIFF @ MAFF | Chris Wall | Michigan Firework Fanatics | 1 | 1 | Yes | 31 |
Western Winter Blast 2018! - Feb. 26th
Western Winter Blast 2018!
During the weekend of February 16th, Joel will be shipping himself out to sunny Lake Havasu City in Arizona to attend the annual Western Winter Blast convention. He will arrive on Friday night and will spend Saturday and Sunday offering support and giving product demos at the trade show, and will again be on site during the evening to offer show support. Be sure to swing by the trade show booth if you are attending and say hello to COBRA's golden boy!
Western Winter Blast is an annual event held by the Western Pyrotechnic Association. Many consider it the PGI of the west, as every year, the convention includes seminars, trade shows, class C and pyrotechnic supply vending, open shooting for both class C & class B, as well as BBQ's afterglow parties and of course, several nights of professional pyromusicals and displays. This year, Spirit of 76 and NPA will be shooting shows using COBRA.
Joel arrived on Friday evening and spent his Saturday and Sunday manning the trade show booth. In the evening, Joel provided on site support for any clients shooting with COBRA.
We are happy to announce between Joel's assistance, and our clients knowledge and preparation, that all shows fired flawlessly. We wanted to share some background on these shows, as well as some amazing videos courtesy of Firecat8:
| Shooter | Club | 18R2 | Audio Box | Control Panel | Modules | |
| "Painting the Sky" WPA Educational Show | David Sholl | WPA - Western Pyrotechnic Association | 1 | No | Yes | 15 |
| Salute to America | Dan Haines | Spirit of 76 | 1 | 1 | Yes | 85 |
| Pyromusical by Vortex Fireworks Artist | Eric Farnsworth | SLAP -Salt Lake Area Pyros | 1 | 1 | Yes | 61 |
| P.I.T. Show | Pyros in Training | 2 | No | No | 13 | 25 |
Upcoming Events for 2018 - Jan. 9th
Upcoming Events for 2018
With a new year comes new pyrotechnic events and trade shows. When we are able to attend, we like to use these events and shows as an opportunity to both offer assistance to customers, as well as spend time with them and learn more about how we can continue to expand in the direction customers want. We have put together a list of the events we plan on attending this year. As we add or remove events, we will continue to update this, so be sure to check for COBRA's attendance if you want to use these as an opportunity to have your equipment checked out or repaired, ask some questions, or just meet some of the crew!
Upcoming Events
| American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) | October 1st - 5th | 2018 | Cleveland, OH | 
|
| Western Winter Blast (WWB) | February 13th - 17th | 2019 | Lake Havasu, AZ | 
|
| National Fireworks Association Spring Showcase (NFA) | March 7th - 9th | 2019 | Columbus, GA |
|
| International Symposium on Fireworks (ISF) | May 6th - 10th | 2019 | Puerto Vallarta, Mexico |
|
International Pyromusical Design and Choreography Course in Buenos Aires, Argentina - Nov. 29th
International Pyromusical Design and Choreography Course in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Safety is a fundamental factor in the handling of pyrotechnics, its correct use guarantees the care and protection of lives, but overall, the performance of professional level shows requires constant learning and training by professionals. The 3rd International Course of Design and Choreography of Pyromusicals is an event aimed at educating professional pyrotechnicians throughout Latin America.
The event was based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on November 15th and 16th 2017. Ernesto Norman of PyroSmart Mexico, Jorge Márquez of Lux Pirotecnia and Jorge Díaz de
The high-quality technology for the development of pyrotechnic events combined perfectly with the support of Finale Fireworks, a professional program for the creation of the best shows.
Pyromania 2017 - Oct. 18th
Pyromania 2017, Wright City, MO
Last week, we packed Joel Robinson into a large wheeled travel case and shipped him back home to the Midwest to attend Pyromania 2017 in Wright City, MO.
Joel provided support for nine 18R2s, six audioboxes and nearly 250 modules spread out across 8 different displays.
We are incredibly proud to say that between Joel's assistance, and our clients knowledge and preparation, that all shows fired flawlessly. We wanted to share some background on these shows, as well as some amazing videos courtesy of Firecat8:
| Shooter | Club | 18R2 | Audio Box | Control Panel | Modules | |
| National Anthem | Zane Northrip | MoPyro | 1 | 1 | Yes | 13 |
| 21 Gun Salute | Zane Northrip | MoPyro | 1 | 1 | Yes | 7 |
| Kevin's 12" Memorial Shell | 1 | 3 | ||||
| Pro Am Entry #2 | Brent Folley | 2 | 1 | Yes | 27 | |
| Pro Am Entry #3 | Jeff Taylor | MoPyro | 1 | 1 | Yes | 29 |
| Mass Launch - Red | 1 | |||||
| Time Transcended | Brandon Schmidt | KCAP | 1 | 1 | Yes | 76 |
| Zane Northrip | Large Pyromusical | MoPyro | 2 | 1 | Yes | 77 |
American Pyrotechnics Association Conference (APA) 2017 - Oct. 5th
Come see Scott at APA!
What a week for our fearless leader Scott Smith, he spent the week in sunny, beautiful San Diego at the yearly APA convention. He wanted to share some thoughts on this week:
"It was great to have great discussions with some existing and new customers. Great to see J&M Displays, Fireworks America, R.J. Santore, and many others! Nothing better than to talk to customers, gain feedback and discuss all of our new developments. First time at APA and will be coming back!"
Pyrotechnics Guild International (PGI) 2017 Convention - Sept. 15th
Pyrotechnics Guild International 2017, Fargo, ND
COBRA was proud to be a part of the PGI 2017 event in Fargo, ND. The brand new 5.0.2 firmware release was used exclusively, leveraging the new MESH technology to combat a difficult shoot site that contained both buildings and natural barriers. Highlights of the event included our eight trade show table booth, where we showed off some of our newer in development technologies, including higher and lower cue count modules, SMTPE time code input, single point command center control interface, and more...
In addition to showing off new technology, we provided field support for any show that was fired using COBRA, which was many of the larger public displays including:
| Shooter | Club | 18R2 | Audio Box | Control Panel | Modules | |
| Firestone | Miranda Pagoada | Spirit of '76 | 1 | 1 | Yes | 69 |
| Dance the Night Away | Dan Haines | Spirit of '76 | 1 | 1 | Yes | 81 |
| Vortex Fireworks | Chuck Johnson | Vortex Fireworks | 1 | 1 | Yes | 82 |
| Northern Lighters Pyrotechnics | Ron Reitan | Northern Lighters Pyrotechnics | 3 | 1 | Yes | 159 |
COBRA was also used to fire a number of choreographed Class C pyromusicals:
For the 5th year in a row, COBRA was also used to fire all evening competitions. This year, the team was able to take advantage of our new MESH technology to support a more difficult shoot site containing varying distances and barriers between competition entries. Thanks to all of the support of Rick Olivieri, Tom Dimock and the rest of the PGI team!
National Fireworks Association (NFA) 2017 Expo - Sept. 12th
COBRA Roadtrip to NFA!
It was an exciting weekend for Joel and Jonah, as they were whisked away in a magical Buick to beautiful Erie PA to the yearly NFA convention! There, they talked to customers, repaired equipment, updated firmware, and provided show support for two shows, an 80's themed show put on by the stellar crew at OPAG and NEOPG, as well as a unique fully scripted product demo put on by Spirit of '76.
I asked Jonah to share his thoughts on the experience:
"It was a great convention; the Bayfront Convention Center, located in beautiful Erie, PA, proved to be a most-accommodating venue for this year's NFA Expo. This was a wonderful opportunity for us to meet face-to-face with both existing and potential customers, as well as other members of the pyrotechnic industry. With a full table of Cobra gear on display at the Trade Show, we were able to provide full product demonstrations, answer questions, and gather feedback, which is vital to our company and our development of new products and features. We were also able to provide on-site technical support for the Ohio Pyrotechnic Arts Guild's public display at the Lake Erie Speedway, which used a total of 90 channels. On the whole, it was a great experience, and we look forward to attending next year's convention!"
2018 South American Games! - Aug. 21st 2018
2018 South American Games!
This summer, one of our Bolivian clients, Leonardo Mauricio Zelaya Salinas, along with the Fireworks Group Bolivia, planned, designed and executed the pyrotechnic ceremonies for the 2018 South American Games, held in Cochabamba, Bolivia. We were lucky enough to spot the post on facebook and give this display the proper attention it deserves!
The South American Games are a regional multi-sport event featuring participants from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. The first games were held in La Paz, Bolivia in 1978. Since then, they have been held every four years. The competitions are similar to what you would see in the Olympic Games, encompassing various sports from disciplines such as aquatics, cycling, football, gymnastics, roller sports, volleyball, and others. This year Columbia placed first, followed by Brazil, and Venezuela in third.
Leo was generous enough to provide some insight on the equipment he used for these displays, as well as some video footage. The upper video is a video of the ceremonies themselves, and the lower video is a short documentary they produced chronicling their journey to make these shows a reality.
| Shooter | Company | 18R2 | Control Panel | Audio Box | Modules | |
| South American Games (ODESUR) Cochabamba 2018 - Bolivia | Leonardo Mauricio Zelaya Salinas | Fireworks Group Bolivia | 2 | No | 2 | Opening Ceremonies - 22, Closing Ceremonies - 13 |
MahdFireworks Summer Showcase! - Jul. 2nd 2018
Mahd Fireworks Summer Showcase!
In May, one of our European dealers, Stephan Stotz, along with Allan Madsen and Mahd Fireworks participated in the annual Sternencup, or StarsCup. StarsCup is a German fireworks competition hosted by SternenGalerie. Every year pyrotechnicians from SternenGalerie form into 5 small teams of 6 to 8 people each to create a 5 minute pyromusical. Each team is given the same budget and timeframe to design the show. Teams compete for both the Jury Award, and the Audience Choice Award. this year the Jurys Award was won by Team Dänemark!
Sternengalerie is one of the biggest wedding fireworks companies in Europe, with over 400 weddings shot each year. Most of these events take place in Germany, but they also shoot in France, Austria, Switzerland, and Denmark. Around 70% of these shows are shot using COBRA!
We were also lucky enough to have Allan Madsen from Mahd Fireworks send us another video of a show they put on in Bohmte, Germany for Götter Dämmerung. Götter Dämmerung is an event held annually in Germany, hosted by Explosive Arts. Each year they invite a display company from another country to perform with them. This year they chose Allan Madsen and Mahd Fireworks and boy they did not disappoint!
| Shooter | Company | 18R2 | Control Panel | Audio Box | Modules | |
| Team Dänemark | Magnus Glumsø | Mahd Fireworks | 1 | Yes | Yes | 39 |
| Great Balls of Fire! | Allan Madsen and Henrik Diekmann | Mahd Fireworks | 1 | Yes | Yes | 38 |
Da Nang International Fireworks Festival! - Jun. 14th 2018
Da Nang International Fireworks Festival!
In late May Joel took a long submarine trip to Da Nang, Vietnam to join Team USA, along with Atlas Pyrovision for the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF).
DIFF is an international fireworks competition that is held in Da Nang Vietnam, in spring since, 2008. From 2011 to 2017, it was a bi-annual event, but from 2018 going forward, it will be held annually. The first DIFF had only four competitors and a very small crowd. Today, the event has grown to accommodate seating for over 30,000 viewers, as well as thousands more that watch from various parts of the city, including hotels, rooftops, and boats.
The shoot site is on the banks of the Hàn River, with the crowd on the Eastern side of the audience, and the pyrotechnics on the western side. The theme of this year was “The Legend of Bridges”. The competition featured eight different competitors from eight different countries.
We are proud to announce that Team USA has beaten 6 of the other 8 competitors and is proceeding to the final round, on June 30th, against Team Italy. Check out the video on the right to view the incredible display that pushed Atlas into the final two!
| Display Company | 18R2 | Time Code | Control Panel | Channels | |
| Bridges of Friendship | Atlas Pyrotechnics | 2 | Yes | Yes | 195 |
All of the below pictures were taken by the on-site photography crew at DIFF. Larger versions of all of these and more can be found at their facebook page.
El Volcan Spotlight! - Apr. 2nd 2018
El Volcan Spotlight!
We wanted to take a moment to highlight some incredible shows by one of our longstanding clients, El Volcan. El Volcan designs and puts on many shows across Mexico and Latin America. Their shows often feature large, elaborate set pieces, tightly timed ground effects, unique parabolic comets, and exquisite layering.
The first video is a short pyro musical set to, "Bohemian Rhapsody". This is a 360 video!
The second video contains a few excerpts from a show put on in Jocotepec Jalisco. Check out the set pieces!
The third video really showcases El Volcans beautiful comet work and layering.
The fourth video includes some really neat chases.
Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship! - Mar. 29th 2018
Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship!
Red Bull Crashed Ice is a world tour of a winter extreme sporting event, ice cross downhill, which involves downhill skating in an urban environment on a track with steep turns and high vertical drops. It is similar to ski cross and snowboard cross, except with ice skates on an ice track.
This year Rick Simpson, of Aerial Fireworks, was given the opportunity to provide the pyrotechnics for the event.
Rick used 9 18Ms and an 18R2 to fire this event, which was split into 4 segments. There was a kick off, final four contestant introductions, finish line award presentation, and a 4 minute designed finale display. The 4 minute display was fully scripted, while the other events were step fired manually.
We reached out to Rick to share his thoughts on the event, this is what he had to say:
What an amazing event! Aerial Fireworks got the opportunity to provide the pyro and fireworks for the Red Bull Crashed Ice 2018 World Championships. I am so proud of our amazing crews and volunteers who made this possible with 3 days notice. We have the best in the business!Cobra has definitely become our system of choice, we have also recently added numerous 18R2, 36Ms, 18Ms, and audio boxes to give us 5 systems capable of shooting over 1000 cues. Thank you to Scott Smith and all the gang at Cobra. As a fireworks company shooting over 100 shows per year, we rely heavily on our firing systems and chose Cobra to replace our existing Pyrosure, Firelinx, FireOne and Pyromate systems for their reliability, durability, and simplicity. We have fired numerous shows in minus 39 degrees celsius (-36 F) and are pleased to report 100 % firing results.
El Volcan at the International Fair of Pyrotechnics! - Nov. 6th 2017
El Volcan at the International Fair of Pyrotechnics!
The National Pyrotechnic Festival, which takes place in Tultepec, Mexico, is an annual event to promote the country's tradition of production and use of fireworks. The main event, a parade of "toritos" or bull-shaped frames with fireworks on them, began in the mid 19th century. The modern national festival began in 1989 and includes various events including fireworks competitions, but the main event remains that of the toritos, with about 250 "running" along the streets of Tultepec in 2013. The National Pyrotechnic Festival lasts for seven days and attracts more than 100,000 visitors to the area.
There are three main events along with amusement rides, concerts, dancing, and regional food. These events are split between the town center of Tultepec and the fairgrounds in the San Antonio Xahuento neighborhood
The first of the main events is a contest of "castillos". Castillos are frames made of wood, reed and paper to which various fireworks are affixed. These fireworks are set off to make images and/or parts of the castillo structure move. The castillos created for this event measure between twenty five and thirty meters, requiring about fifteen days to build. When set off, they take between twenty and thirty minutes to go through all of their features
The second, oldest and most important event is the "pamplonada." Named after the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain, these "little bulls" or "toritos" are also fireworks frames. These frames are made of wood, reed, and paper mache. They can measure anywhere from 20 inches to over 10 feet in height. The larger toritos are made by groups of thirty to forty people because of the cost and can have as many as 4,000 fireworks on them The toritos are giving names such as El Chico, Sagitario Toro Maya and Monster. In the 2013 event, over 250 of these toritos were registered to participate. The toritos are paraded on March 8, in honor of John of God, the patron saint of fireworks makers. The toritos proceeds over the various streets of Tultepec, setting off their fireworks for five to six hours until they arrive to the main plaza of the town.
The last of the major event is also a contest. This contest involves performances that combine fireworks and music. El Volcan, competes in this competition every year, and has won several times.
Selstar Wins First Place at British Fireworks Championship! - Nov. 1st 2017
Selstar Wins First Place at British Fireworks Championship!
The British Firework Championships is an annual competition held since 1997 in Plymouth, England, every August, where judges review fireworks displays from professional fireworks companies and select the best examples.The competition rules place restrictions on budget, duration and amount of product that can be used for each display. It is watched by more than 200,000 people.
This year, for the second time, the winner was Selstar Fireworks with a phenomenal show. Congrats Selstar!
| Shooter | Compay | 18R2 | Control Panel | Modules | |
| British Fireworks Championship Winner | Iain Keightley | Selstar Fireworks | 2 | Yes | 71 |
Spirit of '76 in the Sky at PGI - Nov. 1st 2017
Spirit of '76 in the Sky at PGI!
Founded in 1987 by John Bechtold, Spirit of ’76 fireworks is one of the premier fireworks wholesalers in the United States. With two warehouses located in Missouri and Pennsylvania, they ship effects as small as sparkers, and as large as 500 gram cakes, to all 48 contiguous states.
Not only does Spirit excel at pyrotechnic distribution, they also have an incredibly talented team of shooters that put on amazing shows. We were lucky enough to be at PGI this year to not only offer on-site assistance, but also sit back and enjoy the flawlessy fired show!
| Shooter | Display Company | 18R2 | Audio Box | Control Panel | Modules | |
| Dance the Night Away | Dan Haines | Spirit of '76 | 1 | 1 | Yes | 81 |
| Firestone | Miranda Pagoada | Spirit of '76 | 1 | 1 | Yes | 69 |
MoPyro Wins First Place at Pyromania 2017 - Oct. 14th 2017
MoPyro Wins First Place at Pyromania 2017!
Pyromania is the biggest fireworks display in the Midwest. Occurring every fall, the display, or series of displays, sometimes as many as 10, take place over a 2 hour period. This is one of the few large pyrotechnic competitions in the US that allows professional effects, shells up to 12”, and gasoline fireballs. Attendance is usually over 5,000.
This winner of the 2017 Pro Am Competition was Jeff Taylor and his crew from MoPyro. Jeff and his crew wired up 493 cues over 20 modules, and the show fired flawlessly. Congrats Jeff!
| Shooter | Club | 18R2 | Audio Box | Control Panel | Modules | Pro Am Entry #3 | Jeff Taylor | MoPyro | 1 | 1 | Yes | 29 |
Sirotechnics Wins First Place at British Musical Fireworks Championship - Sept. 30th 2017
Sirotechnics Wins First Place at British Musical Fireworks Championship!
Set in the beautiful Victoria Park, the British Musical Fireworks Championship is a firework competition spread across three nights, in which seven competitors battle it out to be crowned the ultimate winner.
Over three nights, they had seven competitors each firing a 16 -18 minute display. A panel of professional judges, who collectively have designed shows for high profile stars such as; Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, Tina Turner and Queen, will judge each display before announcing the winner on the final evening.
This year, seven previous winners went head to head to be crowned the ultimate 'Champion of Champions'. Sirotechnics Fireworks took the ultimate crown with their stunning display and creative lancework, including a zombie during a Michael Jackson song. Congrats Sirotechnics!
| Shooter | Display Company | 18R2 | Audio Box | Control Panel | Modules | SMPTE | |
| Champions of Champions | Simon Harding | Sirotechnics | 1 | 1 | Yes | 90 | Yes |