'Back To The Future' Drone-Fireworks Display at WPA's 36th Western WinterBlast
February 2025 – Verge Aero debuts its X1 Pyro Module and flies the first ever drone show at Western WinterBlast alongside Hauter Fireworks.
Lake Havasu City, Arizona – Hauter Fireworks and Verge Aero took audiences ‘Back To The Future’ at the 2025 Western WinterBlast Grand Public Display in Lake Havasu City.
It was the pyrotechnic event’s first ever show to feature drones!
With assistance from network partner Flylight Drones, Verge Aero flew 500 drones and 90 pyro-drones to accompany nearly 13,000 cues of fireworks choreographed to the movie’s signature soundtrack.
Pyro-drones brought a fiery note to the DeLoreon racing through time and the clocktower scene.
This show marked the debut of our new X1 Pyro Module, which communicates directly with the X1 Pyro-Drone to provide advanced control over pyrotechnic devices being deployed.
“One of the reasons we needed this was all because of safety,” said Tony Samaritano, a Verge Aero co-founder, about the development of the X1 Pyro Module. “If you use a third party module, the drone isn’t talking to the module and vice versa. That’s a really big logistical problem. If the drone were to failsafe for any reason, you want that drone to just tell the module to disarm. So, we created a module that plugs into the drone, and the drone is able to directly communicate with that module.”
The X1 Pyro Module is another aspect of Verge Aero’s tightly integrated system that ensures drone show safety and fantastic performance.
Western WinterBlast (WWB) is an annual gathering organized by the Western Pyrotechnic Association (WPA) where fireworks builders and enthusiasts meet, learn, and share pyrotechnic knowledge. Learn more at westernpyro.org.