British Airways i360

This was a fun project that had many moving parts to ensure a safe and exciting display for our clients and audience.

We had fired varying displays on calm seas, lakes and rivers in the past but this was slightly different and more challenging.

We really needed the weather to be on our side for this challenging project that would in effect see us floating on a barge packed full of fireworks in the English Channel.

Just to add to the complication because we like complicated displays, we were going to be firing the display to music and matching the changing colours of the lights on the i360, whilst being 150m out to sea on choppy water…simple!

Due to our quite unique understanding of what is required for a waterborne fireworks display we set upon planning the logistics and jumping through the many hoops regarding using harbours with explosives.

Everything was planned, various licences were granted and we were all set to load the barge the next day…apart from the weather had different ideas. Strong winds were forecast and on the morning of the display the barge had to turn back due to the swell on the sea. Sadly we had to postpone the display until a week later (the date chosen by BA).

Fast forward one week and everything was running to plan, calm seas, blue skies and as planned the tide was perfect for loading fireworks and equipment onto the barge via a crane.

Everything was rigged and wired into our firing system on time and final tests were completed and then off we went out to sea for a stunning display. It took a couple of hours to get to the point of being positioned opposite the i360.

Our team were also on the beach giving guidance on the final position of the barge so it looked perfect for our audience.

The music began and our first 6″ shells launched into the sky on time. This highly technical display was designed so that as the timed colours on the i360 changed, so did the colours on our fireworks so that they were reflected into the sea, the sky and the i360.

Using cakes, candles and a vast amount of shells for a short duration really did fill the sky with cascading stars and effects. We unleased our Double Dragon Eggs and Golden Brocade bursts for a very special crackling and golden tumbling stars finale where the stars burned all the way down into the sea. The perfect end to a very technically challenging display. We could hear the applause and cheering from the barge.

Every part of the plan was executed on time with no hiccups along the way. Planning and having the right team to perform these types of displays is essential and we have every part in place along with our vast experience.