Freefly Systems, a manufacturer of aerial cameras used for cinematography, is getting ready to launch their new aerial lighting solutions, the Flying Sun 1000 and Flying Sun 500 this June.

The Flying Sun 1000 is equipped with 288 LEDs providing 300,000 lumens within a 60-degree field of view. Living up to its name, the Flying Sun provides incredible aerial lighting in a way that horizontal flood lights or traditional lighting towers cannot. This drone can be paired with a tether for unlimited flying time and noise reduction. Flown at 100 feet, the drone is only 56 decibels, making it the ideal partner for video recording or sensitive rescue situations. Untethered, the Flying Sun can operate on battery power without compromising the strength of the lighting, which makes it distinct from existing lighting options in a significant way.

“Traditional light towers often don’t provide enough light to meet OSHA standards.” said Matt Isenbarger, CRO at Freefly Systems. “They’re unsafe, blinding users with eye level lights, and produce horrible shadows. Because they can’t fly, they are often placed in dangerous positions increasing probably of worker injury, tripping hazards, and equipment damage”.

Aware of the heat generated by LEDs, Freefly engineered the system with a built-in self-cooling mechanism to prevent overheating. The Flying Sun uses its rotor wash to cool the lights to enable non-stop lighting.

Aerial lighting reduces shadows cast and removes the human element that is required with lighting towers, both benefits to the many applications this solution will have such as search and rescue, infrastructure inspections, and security.  It’s also predicted to be used as a variable height system to help as a flying cell tower to extend wireless communications. Other key areas of predicted use include traffic monitoring, firefighting, conservation and anti-poaching, and large events.

Building off their solid framework of the Alta X and the Astro Max drones, Freefly set out to create this safe alternative for commercial grade aerial lighting.

“This exact aerial lighting solution doesn’t exist and there is a pressing need for it across industries,” Isenbarger told Commercial UAV News. “There has been significant interest in the Flying Sun products this early on which proves there is a need for a better lighting solution. Limited flight times and large power draw of lighting on this scale has never been possible in this size and price”.

In addition to the immense lighting, the Flying Sun 1000 can carry an additional 35lb payload making this solution versatile and adaptable to the many operations it will perform. This could include cameras with optical zoom for live surveillance or thermal sensors for search and rescue missions after dark.

State DOTs have been among the early adopters of this technology and are finding it to be an invaluable addition to their toolbox; “CalTrans and Alaska DOT have purchased the first two systems and continue to report positive experiences as we work though beta testing with them both. Most of the electric utilities have expressed interest or placed pre-orders as well. We are also seeing a lot of interest from law enforcement and first responder groups” said Isenbarger.

The Flying Sun 1000 and Flying Sun 500 are available for pre-order and will be available starting June 2025.