Smokeless fireworks

SorcererMickey

SorcererMickey

Member
Original Poster
I saw this article on MSNBC, and thought it would be of interest here. I searched and didn't see anyone mentioning it..

Here's the beginning of the article, I'll put a link to the full article after it.

ANAHEIM, Calif. - The smoke has cleared from the thousands of fireworks displays — big and small — that mark our nation's annual Fourth of July celebration.

However, there was a lot less smoke to clear at Disneyland in California, where the company has developed a patented system that uses compressed air to replace the gunpowder normally used to lift its 361 colorful explosive devices into the air.
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www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5431104/
 
PhotoDave219

PhotoDave219

Well-Known Member
Wishes uses this technology, you can hear it during some of the castle effects. Especially during the sorcerer's apprentice segments.
 
phlydude

phlydude

Well-Known Member
Keep in mind it is not completely smokeless. The burst in air creates a lot more smoke than the launching of the shells themselves. The thrust exhaust is eliminated which will cut down on the low-level smoke you see with most pyro displays.
 
boo52

boo52

Active Member
PhotoDave219 said:
Wishes uses this technology, you can hear it during some of the castle effects. Especially during the sorcerer's apprentice segments.
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Wishes does not use any air launch. The only air launch used on property is Reflections of Earth. The first two shots of the show are air launched. Wishes still utilizes black powder lift on everything. WDW will most likely not jump into the airlaunch conversion due to the fact there are no regulations saying they have to and they are not in the middle of a city and of course $$$. It would be more likely that the next fireworks air launch Disney does will be in Hong Kong, since it is close to the city and does have strict air quality guidlines there that must be met.
 
imagineer boy

imagineer boy

Well-Known Member
boo52 said:
Wishes does not use any air launch. The only air launch used on property is Reflections of Earth. The first two shots of the show are air launched. Wishes still utilizes black powder lift on everything. WDW will most likely not jump into the airlaunch conversion due to the fact there are no regulations saying they have to and they are not in the middle of a city and of course $$$. It would be more likely that the next fireworks air launch Disney does will be in Hong Kong, since it is close to the city and does have strict air quality guidlines there that must be met.
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No, Wishes does use the air launching system. That's where it was first tried out. Then DL started using it for its fireworks.
 
ToTBellHop

ToTBellHop

Well-Known Member
yup...it definitely sounds different from the stuff most of us (less lucky souls) heard at our local July 4th shows (the more lucky souls were at Disney ;) )
 
boo52

boo52

Active Member
Trust me when I say that Wishes uses no air launch. I work the show. We have never had air launch. The shooting star effects are Stinger simulators that were originally manufactured for the military to use in war games to look like...Stinger Missles. Anyway, those when launched do make a pop but they are launched with 100% black power lift. As is everything else on Wishes. Yes WDW was first with air launch on ROE. But the system used at Disneyland is WAY different that the 2 launchers used at Epcot.
 
imagineer boy

imagineer boy

Well-Known Member
boo52 said:
Trust me when I say that Wishes uses no air launch. I work the show. We have never had air launch. The shooting star effects are Stinger simulators that were originally manufactured for the military to use in war games to look like...Stinger Missles. Anyway, those when launched do make a pop but they are launched with 100% black power lift. As is everything else on Wishes. Yes WDW was first with air launch on ROE. But the system used at Disneyland is WAY different that the 2 launchers used at Epcot.
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No, its not incorrect. Wishes uses the air launch system! Its been said in thousands of threads about wishes and even Al Lutz mentioned about it. Believe me, Wishes DOES use the air launching system. Can someone please confirm this?
 
MrNonacho

MrNonacho

Premium Member
imagineer boy said:
No, its not incorrect. Wishes uses the air launch system! Its been said in thousands of threads about wishes and even Al Lutz mentioned about it.
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I'm no expert in pyrotechnics, but I've seen the show from all around the castle and none of that pyro seems air-launched. I also have no reason to doubt boo52, who has shown himself to be pretty knowledgeable when it comes to these things. Maybe Al Lutz was wrong? I'd like to read what he said.
 
ToTBellHop

ToTBellHop

Well-Known Member
It is my understanding that the locals actually are complaining about the frequency of firework presentations on school nights, which has greatly increased. The number of nights with fireworks in the late 90s was something like 65, and this year it's around 230. I'm not complaining as a guest, but that is their complaint. It's just one more reason to visit next summer--even the locals are okay with the nightly fireworks during the summer, which are nothing new, so even if Disney is forced to reduce the number of presentations, they will still have Remember nightly and Fantasmic! twice nightly next summer :D

By the way, now that I think about it, Disney has been emphasizing that Imagine is the first firework show to use the new air launch system.
 
B

bryon1

New Member
This airless firework serves 3 purposes:

(1) keeps the surrounding neighborhoods happy with less smoke that crosses sometimes into the 5 freeway.

(2) there is an upcoming new AQMD (air quality Mangnt. District) law starting in July that will effect Disneyland and other areas that shoot pyro.

(3) new launch area bk stage in preperation for the 50th. (PYRO) was shot off of a flat bed truck.

by complying D/L avoids any future problems...and as almost a slap in the face they release the patents for the public so other cities dont follow suit as well. This has been an ongoing problem where homes that were built less than a city block cry because Disneyland is such a bad neighbor yet, they buy house next to a theme park thats been around for 50 yrs. go figure!
 
ToTBellHop

ToTBellHop

Well-Known Member
Disney has done MORE than enough to appease the locals. They spent a fortune when Believe debuted to get the new "quiet" fireworks that make far less noise when they explode than most fireworks, and this new air launch system also costed a fortune in research, development, and implementation. If the locals still have problems, they need to invest in earplugs. Disney has done more than enough to be a good neighbor, going so far as installing the scream shields on MaliBOOMer and the tunnels on California Screamin'. People just like to whine without acknowledging that they would have no business without Disney. Disneyland made Anaheim.
 
boo52

boo52

Active Member
imagineer boy said:
No, its not incorrect. Wishes uses the air launch system! Its been said in thousands of threads about wishes and even Al Lutz mentioned about it. Believe me, Wishes DOES use the air launching system. Can someone please confirm this?
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The last time I loaded and fired Wishes, which was a few days ago, I don't remember seeing Al Lutz or an air launcher on the show. Believe what you want. I have been involved with Wishes since July of last year long before the show opened. I think my credetials speak for themself.
PS. Thanks Mr. Nonacho :-)
 
B

bryon1

New Member
Boo52

**Wondering what classes it took to get your license and how much out of your pocket?
**Is it worth it to get your license if your only working on the 4th vs. working at a theme park every day.


Thanks for any info!
 
B

bryon1

New Member
I emply that Disney is such a bad neighbor from the residents view point. Not my opinion. They (neighbors) even have their own group the H.O.M.E. that cries for them City Hall in Anahiem

I agree on the $$ spent, they even studyied micro chips in the load to help sync the shot.

Being "locked down" bkstg is not fun, especaily breathing afterwords...but the best view for Pyro is the "Pluto" conf. room at 4th floor TDA. :-)
 
boo52

boo52

Active Member
bryon1 said:
Boo52

**Wondering what classes it took to get your license and how much out of your pocket?
**Is it worth it to get your license if your only working on the 4th vs. working at a theme park every day.


Thanks for any info!
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Depending on what state you work in, the laws differ as to how you obtain a license as well how much it will cost. There are no specific classes per say, but the best source of information may be a local pyrotechnics guild. A little knowledge of chemistry doesn't hurt, as well as good common sense. In our business, your first mistake is usually your last. Private message me if you have more questions.
 
marni1971

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
boo52 said:
The last time I loaded and fired Wishes, which was a few days ago, I don't remember seeing Al Lutz or an air launcher on the show. Believe what you want. I have been involved with Wishes since July of last year long before the show opened. I think my credetials speak for themself.
PS. Thanks Mr. Nonacho :-)
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Well, you don`t get it much better than that! boo52 - can you let us in to some of the backstage workings that make Wishes work? What does it entail to prepare for and run the show?
 

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