Britain’s Got Talent / America’s Got Talent has seen a small number of drone show companies make decent progress over the years, but did you know that the company behind the model of drone that we operate here in the United Kingdom was the first to win big? The team behind Verge Aero took the Verge Aero X1 drone which we fly here in the UK onto the AGT stage and impressed Simon Cowell so much that he awarded them the first Golden Buzzer for a drone show on the AGT / BGT television show.

When Verge Aero took to the stage on America’s Got Talent: Extreme, they didn’t just put on a regular drone show, they actually bagged the elusive Golden Buzzer from judge Simon Cowell. Not only was it a first class performance, but it was only a really historic one - this was the first Golden Buzzer ever awarded to a drone show in the history of both America’s Got Talent and Britain’s Got Talent.

What makes Verge Aero so special isn’t just the stunning drones and flashing lights, it’s the guys that sit behind the laptops and who created the amazing technology. The co-founders, Anthony Merlino, Chris Franzwa, Tony Samaritano, and Nils Thorjussen are the incredibly talented engineers who proved that technical brilliance in the drone world really belongs on the world's biggest stages.

Their journey is a really great story. Chris, Anthony and Tony met as undergraduates at Rowan University in New Jersey, where they spent their days in engineering labs and their nights working on drone hardware and code. A long time before they were lighting up the Las Vegas Strip (which they have now done many times!), they were building their first drones from scratch in their parents’ garages and basements. 

Seeing them standing on that stage, having scaled their passion from a garage job to a world-leading technology firm was a massive win for college engineering. Their incredible dedication and skills have produced a world-leading drone that produces an awesome drone light show and can carry a payload of up to 500 grams, making it suitable for use for firing fireworks and pyrotechnics using Verge Aero’s special pyro modules.

Since that historic Golden Buzzer moment, the bar has been set incredibly high. Whilst we’ve seen incredible acts like Celestial recently wowing crowds on Britain’s Got Talent 2026, very few drone companies have been good enough to make the cut. Verge Aero started the revolution, showing the world that drones aren’t just toys, they’re a light show drone that is so dynamic and allows such complex programming that it really stands out from the crowd.

Bringing the Magic to the UK: Star Symphony Drone Shows

Bringing the Magic to the UK: Star Symphony Drone Shows

You might think that level of spectacular is reserved for the bright lights of America, but that’s where you would be wrong. Here in the United Kingdom, we are bringing that exact same Golden Buzzer-winning technology to our own drone light shows.

At Star Symphony Drone Shows we are proud to operate the cutting-edge Verge Aero system. We fly the Verge Aero X1, the very same drone model that left Simon Cowell speechless, and we also fly the Verge Aero X7 which is the latest release model.

By using the X1 system, we can offer the same precision, safety and breathtaking wow factor seen on the global stage. Whether it’s a massive public celebration or a bespoke private event, we use the industry’s most advanced software and hardware to ensure our shows are as perfect as the one that won gold. 

"I've never seen anything like this before. It was, quite simply, one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen on this stage."

Simon Cowell

Verge Aero proved that the sky isn’t the limit, it’s a canvas. From those early days at University to the literal top of the entertainment world, their story is one of innovation and grit.

At Star Symphony Drone Shows we’re chuffed to be part of that legacy, flying the Verge Aero X1 and keeping the magic alive right here in the UK. The future of entertainment is looking up - literally.

Planning an event that needs a ‘Golden Buzzer’ touch? Get in touch with Star Symphony Drone Shows and let’s make the night sky unforgettable!  

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