Drone show brightens East Union night

AFTON - The lights on East Union’s football field suddenly shut off, cutting the atmosphere of the chilly April night into darkness.

On the south side of the field, a couple hundred small white and blue lights began rising into the air. It’s a sight worthy of the oohs and ahs that followed.

Like floating stars, these lights began moving together, eventually forming two blue wings and the unmistakable head of a bald eagle. In the night sky, an eagle spread its wings to the applause of East Union elementary students and parents.

Those lights were a part of a drone show, and over the next 12 minutes, the eagle morphed into the East Union logo, an American flag, a windmill on the prairie during a sunrise and more. When the numbers “67″ appeared in the sky, to the annoyance of parents and teachers, the kids still cheered and waved their arms.

The show was prepared by Fantasy Drone Shows, based in Nebraska. The company performs drone shows across the country, including a yearly visit to the Iowa State Fair.

For this year’s Family Literacy and Learning Night, East Union Elementary contracted Fantasy Drone Shows to connect with students about early learnings in STEM.

“Today’s world is ever moving and as fast paced as it has ever been,” Marcus Patten, an East Union elementary teacher, said. “Our schools need to try their best to keep up with this high level of change. We are literally training our students, even at the elementary level, to work at careers that do not even exist yet.”

Presentations throughout the learning day for East Union students were led by Don Wisnieski, CEO of Fantasy Drone Shows who goes by the nickname “The Wiz.” Alongside his team, Wisnieski explained the complicated nature of drones, from how shows are organized to the limits of how they can fly.

Besides the natural elements like wind and weather, drones are also limited by federal airspace. For each show, there needs to be permission and notice given that the drones will be taking up a portion of the airspace. While the show is bright from the ground, from above is much more difficult.

Wisnieski also explained how his company uses drones in non-showmanship ways. For example, a drone can be piloted to view parcels of land from a bird’s eye view, which can be helpful for imaging the land or monitoring storm damage.

Introducing emerging technology to early learners is the goal for STEM at the elementary level. From activities like coding or using a 3D printer, elementary students are given early looks at jobs that they might pursue when they’re older.

“There is not one facet of today’s world that does not require some form of STEM or computer science to make something and to keep that something working,” Patten said. “We are working with modern technologies that were unthinkable 50 years ago.”

The experience of seeing a drone show in person is like no other. As the lights in the sky move on their own accord, forming shapes and designs that move on their own, there’s a sense of wonder.

A football player catches a football. A flag waves in the air. A flower blooms its petals. All bright and wide across the night sky.

Alongside these designs, the names of all East Union’s district cities, from Arispe to Shannon City, flashed across the sky unifying the local community. It was a night to remember for Afton and beyond.

“I personally was beyond impressed with the whole event, including the outpouring of community support,” Patten said.