Holy moly up in the sky!

When ideas learn to fly, it takes more than imagination - it takes people to make them possible. Filmmaker Daniel Künzli and musician Nickless had a vision: a drummer performing live on a hot air balloon - accompanied from the air, captured on film in all its grandeur. Our task was to bring this vision to reality. Safely. Precisely. Moving.

What looks spectacular is the result of months of preparation, meticulous planning and close collaboration with experts from various fields. The platform for the drums was specially constructed, certified and approved by the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) - a prerequisite for safe execution. After all, what may seem light and poetic actually follows a complex set of rules comprising airspace clearances, safety precautions, certifications and technical precision.

Thanks to the specially obtained FOCA permit, our drone team was allowed to operate at an altitude of up to 150 meters above ground - in an area that lies between the heavily regulated no-fly zones of Beromünster airfield and Buttwil airfield. This alone made the mission challenging. Added to this was the constant movement of the balloon - a changing target in a dynamic airspace. In close coordination with balloon pilot Astrid Gerhardt, our task was to balance the speed and flight altitudes in such a way that a safe, smooth parallel flight was possible - always within the legal requirements.

One thing was clear at all times: safety first. It had to be possible to anticipate every gust, every spontaneous change of direction of the balloon within seconds. The drone therefore remained in line of sight at all times, ready to be flown out of the danger zone immediately if necessary.

The result is more than just a music video. It is an interplay of technology, timing, teamwork and a passion for visual storytelling. A project that shows what is possible when people come together with a shared vision - and are prepared to go as far as the clouds to make it a reality.