I cut and pasted a message that I have received by RollerCoasterTalk, a Yahoo's group about amusement parks. It can be interesting for fireworks enthusiasts and specialists.

Frédérick



Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 19:25:57 -0000
From: "aelk2004" <aelk2004@yahoo.com>
Subject: NEWS: Disney debuts new Fireworks Launcher

After years of research and testing, Walt Disney Imagineering has
perfected a new innovation in fireworks launch technology, marking
the pyrotechnic industry's first major breakthrough in decades.

The new technology uses compressed air to lift fireworks, virtually
eliminating the need for smoke-producing black powder and other
materials at launch, significantly reducing ground-level smoke and
noise while continuing to provide a highly entertaining show. The air launch system debuted when the Disneyland Resort recently unveiled its new summer fireworks show, "Disney's Imagine -- a Fantasy in the Sky."

As a recognized industry leader and the world's largest producer of
fireworks shows, Disney is in the process of donating all seven
patents associated with the new air launch technology to a non-profit organization so these patents can be licensed to other pyrotechnic providers. Those efforts are being applauded by the American Pyrotechnics Association, a nationwide advocate of fireworks safety standards.

Disneyland in California is showcasing the air launch technology
which is planned for other Disney parks around the globe.

-Alan

Sounds preety cool!

I know usually Disney puts on great fireworks displays! I have some family in Orlando, so they might be able to check it out.

I don't think I'll be able to attend, though

Trav.

This is another story about the new air launch technology used by Disney. From: http://disney.go.com/inside/issues/stories/v040831.html

On a hot late-July afternoon, men and women are working in a chain-link enclosure set on a sizzling hot blacktop expanse among some warehouses. A mysterious regiment of black tubes points toward the sky. The atmosphere is businesslike and relaxed, and you'd never guess that this crew is preparing to make magic … with high explosives.

These people are setting up Disneyland's "Disney's Imagine ... A Fantasy in the Sky" fireworks extravaganza, and they go through the same drill more than 200 nights a year. Imagineer Mark Hollingsworth kindly allowed the Insider to view the prep for a fireworks launch, and took time out on the hot tarmac to answer our questions. That afternoon pre-launch drill has taken a change this summer, and the results are cleaner, safer … and utterly spectacular.

What's different now? The fireworks shells for Disneyland's pyrotechnics spectaculars are no longer launched by the traditional black-powder ignition, but by compressed air. Although it's a revolution in pyrotechnic technology, the air launch system is deceptively simple. The shells are loaded into long metal tubes – a whopping 330 of them – then launched by powerful blasts of air precisely timed by computer.

When show time arrives, actual operations are conducted from an unassuming little hut some yards away, where two synchronized computer systems (one for emergency backup) control the show, and a "spotter" stands just outside the door to watch the shells burst overhead and ensure that everything is performing as it should.

The air launch system was developed by Disneyland's own Imagineering staff. No burning black powder means no smoke drifting over the residential neighborhoods that surround the park, plus a safer show. Best of all, according to Hollingsworth, the new system is more precise and can launch shells higher than black powder, enabling spectacular new effects. As Hollingsworth describes it, "It paints a better picture in the sky."

The system makes possible the Mickey head-with-ears effect that is used with great impact in "Disney's Imagine … a Fantasy in the Sky." However, this beautiful moment is just a taste of what the air-launch technology can produce. This summer's show is being used as a "test run" to put the new system through its paces and according to Hollingsworth, "We haven't begun to touch on the creative possibilities this opens up."

Those possibilities will be fully explored in summer 2005, as Disneyland celebrates its 50th anniversary with a lavish birthday fireworks extravaganza. Hollingsworth won't reveal any details of the anniversary spectacular, but he does promise that "all I can say is I think it will be an outstanding show."

The air-launch technology is such a revolutionary step forward that Disney has decided to share it with the pyrotechnics industry as a whole. The Walt Disney Company plans to donate the seven patents produced for the air-launch process to a non-profit group that will license the technology to the rest of the pyrotechnics industry.

Well, it must be a slow news day somewhere. Disney have been using their air-launch system for many years now. As well as using the air-launch system, they are using shells with an embedded electronic time fuse called MagicFire ( http://magicfire.com ) and have been using this for some years as well. A very good friend of mine is president of MagicFire and Disney are one of their largest customers and have been for some time.

For general fireworks, the air-launch system is useless since it requires so much infrastructure to make it work. It could be interesting for a site like La Ronde, though how it would work with the fireworks competition is difficult to see.

Paul.

I'm a traditionalist. Give me the BP. What next? Plastic palm trees to line the streets of Montreal?

I know what you mean. Apparently the move to using air-launch systems has been driven on two fronts. First, there's the environmental lobby groups that complain that Disney parks make too much smoke - removing the lift charge does get rid of the ground level smoke. Believe me, there are a lot of pyro chemists actively working on making completely smokeless (and chlorine-free) compositions for people such as Disney. Secondly, Disney naturally wants their shows to be very predictable since they do the same show every night. The specifications on the shells they used (with respect to size tolerances etc.) are quite tight and therefore using something like the air-launch system gives them the accuracy they want. Finally, though I don't know if they're doing this yet, it is possible to use the air-launch system like a machine gun in that it can be reloaded multiple times (probably automatically). Since the launch tubes don't get hot (no lift powder) there is no danger in doing this. This technique greatly minimizes the amount of labour required to setup a show. Personally, I love the smell of black powder smoke!

As for plastic palm trees in Montreal? I'm waiting for global warming to kick-in enough that we get real ones! It was always a thrill when I was a child living in the UK and we'd go on holiday to Scotland. Many of the far north-west coast villages there do have palm trees lining the streets, even though they are around lattitude 60 north! Got to love the gulf stream. Ironically, if global warming raises sea temperatures and melts the artic ice, the outflow of cold water could push the gulf stream far to the south so the northern Europe no longer benefits from its warming influence.

Paul.

I agree, Paul!

But, believe me, the effects of global warming going to that extent is beyond our lifetimes! Although, I wouldn't mind seing palm trees in Montreal! That would be very strange!

Enkil had showed me and article about Europe possibly losing it's winters for good by around 2080. Of course, this is just a hypothesis, but yes, I can really tell you that global temperatures and initial climates around the world have changed considerably.

The effects of global warming are sort of similar to the El Nino effect, but partially. And as you say, it's hard to imagine anywhere above or near the lattitude 60 north to get palm trees! Places could even see that even further up as decades progress. One of the major components is the increasing melting of the poles. This is really not a good thing. Sea surface temperatures have shown unbelievable changes compared to that of the past figures. This is where the annual position of the gulf stream could change, altering our weather patterns, but more for the northern hemisphere, as the south starts getting baked even more. However, it will be influenced by more than just the melted cold water. There will be a big shift in this pattern. As the gulf stream plays a big part in our weather, it can and will be hindered significantly within the near future.

I really pay attention to global warming because it can be a very dangerous phenomenon, plus who knows what the future will hold for our planet. It's still very controversial, but I've seen the temperature changes happening in the oceans and I've heard more and more ice bergs are being spotted around shores in the Atlantic. A good indicator of the actual increase of melting situations in the North. Even south of the lattitudes below the Arctic Circle, there's been big modifications to the climate there.

A very popular topic, but needs to be taken more seriously, world-wide.

Trav.