Night Aerobatic Display · Durban · 2018
Diwali Lights
Patrick Davidson lights up Durban's beachfront with a precision night aerobatic display combining smoke, lights and pyrotechnics.
Night Display
Precision aerobatics
Durban
Beachfront skyline
Festival
Diwali celebration
Red Bull
Athlete performance
The story
Turning Durban's night sky into an aerial stage.
During Durban's Diwali Festival of Lights, Patrick Davidson delivered a distinctive evening display over the city's beachfront, combining precision aerobatics with smoke, onboard lighting and pyrotechnics.
Night flying changes every part of an aerobatic display. Visual references are reduced, depth perception becomes more demanding, and every manoeuvre must remain precisely positioned for the crowd below.
The result was an unforgettable performance framed by the Durban skyline, with the aircraft tracing illuminated lines through the darkness above the beachfront.
The display
Watch the full performance
Filmed during the evening display over Durban's beachfront.
Behind the scenes
Preparing for the night display
Aircraft preparation, safety coordination, positioning and final checks all had to come together before Patrick could take the display into the night sky.
Gallery
From preparation to performance
31 photographs