behind the scenes of the show of 800 light drones in Marseille

Thirty-five people have worked for six days to prepare the exceptional show of Group F this evening in Marseille. At 21:00, 800 luminous drones combined with fireworks will light up the sky to celebrate the approach of the Olympic Games. How is such an event prepared? What about the weather? Group F, based in Arles, and specialist in global pyrotechnics, responded to France 3 Provence-Alpes.

For six days, fireworks, technicians and drone operators have been fine-tuning the final adjustments to the sea wall in the Bay of Marseille on Friday 26 April 8, 800 luminous drones will dance in front of the eyes of thousands of people during this hugely popular festival. It will mark the departure of the ship Belem from Greece to arrive in Marseille on 8 May. On board, the Olympic flame.

The Aix Marseille Provence metropolis commissioned the show from Group F. Based in Mas-Thibert, a village in Arles in the Bouches-du-Rhône, it is sspecialist in pyrotechnics mounted on drones.

The drone is a technology that Group F has followed since 2017. “We see it as an object of light because our fundamental passion is to light”, explains Nicolas Chavance, CEO of Groupe F.

Because before mastering this newer technology, the F group is best known worldwide for its pyrotechnic shows. It was he who set fire to the Eiffel Tower 11 times, for example. Since its establishment in 1990, the Olympic Games and World Championships have been among its regular customers. Just like Pont du Gard locally.

So the drone is a new means of expression for pyrotechnicians. In the fleet they have more than 4,000. Some can be used as rocket launchers to enhance the fireworks. To prepare for tomorrow’s show, “the upstream work was as important as the installation”explains Nicolas Chavance, CEO of Groupe F.

Everything starts from a story to tell. On a drawing board. Here is the prelude, Belem’s departure from Greece to the Mediterranean. “What music, what color shall we use?”everything is played out during meetings with sponsors.

Tomorrow we will light the flame among the French.

Nicolas Chavance, CEO of Groupe F

by France 3 Provence Alpes

Their trademark is history first, technology second. “We will always try to tell the most beautiful story possible”indicates the enthusiast. “Tomorrow we shall light the flame among the French!”

Then comes the technical phase. Graphic designers and technicians will co-write the famous flight plan, the choreography. For each of the 800 drones has a flight plan. It is connected to the control room, the computer. He is the conductor: “He’s the one who coordinates the whole fleet.”

The language is universal: light, music, fire, rhythm. A few hours before the event, there is time for technical exercises, to see if everything can be planned for tomorrow evening. “We are flying at about 300 meters altitude.”

Before the performance, which will last around 15 minutes, is there a risk of cancellation?

The weather is of course one of the main issues. “Beyond 50 kilometers an hour with wind, it’s complicated to play”announces Nicolas Chavance, CEO of Groupe F. But at the moment the conditions seem quite favourable. “There is only a slight chance of rain, we are monitoring it closely,” he said, philosophically, because “in open air shows we are always exposed.”

In 2022 and 2023, the first fleet of Group F drones flew over the Palace of Versailles.

In 2022, they have assembledtheir spectacular pyrotechnic show with drones in the Middle East, especially above Louvre of Abu Dhabi.

In May 2023, 800,000 people watched their drone show on Lake Geneva. The biggest European drone show. IIt earned them the award for the best show of the year in their category.

For the Arles-based company, whose majority of activities are located outside the old continent, it is above all a great pleasure to play at home: “It’s family, we’re very happy!” , smiles Nicolas Chavance.

Group F will also offer another show on May 7, the day before the Flame arrives in Marseille.

Before the air show, a series of cultural and musical events can be discovered for free in the square in front of the Esplanade de la Major. A hip-hop dance competition and at 20.30 a Gipsy Kings concert. The group replaces Kendji Girac, hospitalized after a gunshot wound.