Live Drones at “The 140 Festival”: World Premiere of the Mercedes-AMG GT SUV at the Mercedes-Benz Museum
For the 140th anniversary of Mercedes-Benz, around 15,000 guests at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart celebrated the return of the three S-Class cars from their world tour and the world premiere of the Mercedes-AMG GT SUV. As CINEQUADS X VR-COPTER we flew in the Cinequads drone team for the livestream – with two DJI Inspire 3, two DJI Mavic 4 Pro, one FPV drone and one Freefly Alta X, live to the gallery.
Project details
- Location: Mercedes-Benz Museum, Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt
- Project: “The 140 Festival” – 140 years of Mercedes-Benz, world premiere Mercedes-AMG GT SUV
- Client / production: CINEQUADS X VR-COPTER – Cinequads (drone team), for Mercedes-Benz
- Pilot: Jochen Riehm, pilot DJI Inspire 3 and DJI Mavic 4 Pro
- Services: live drone images for livestream and gallery, aerials
- Shoot date: 17 October 2026
Brief and execution
The festival was the highlight of the anniversary year “140 Years of Innovation”: the three S-Class cars Bertha, Carl and Gottlieb returned to the Mercedes-Benz Museum after more than 65,000 kilometres through 55 countries, escorted by a convoy of 140 historic and current vehicles. On top came the world premiere of the Mercedes-AMG GT SUV and a live concert by Die Fantastischen Vier.
The drones delivered the live image for the broadcast: wide shots over the museum, festival grounds and stage, the arrival of the convoy and movement around the world premiere. Several drone units flew in parallel, each with its own task and in sync with the gallery, so an aerial shot was always ready when the cut needed it. Jochen Riehm flew the DJI Inspire 3 and the DJI Mavic 4 Pro – he shot the aerials on this page himself.
And then the weather: the evening was rainy. For live operations that means reliable equipment, spare batteries and drones that deliver clean images in rain and dusk.
Equipment and permits
Two DJI Inspire 3 for cinema-grade live images, two DJI Mavic 4 Pro for fast positions, one FPV drone for dynamic flights and one Freefly Alta X as heavy-lift platform.
Flight areas, take-off spots and procedures were agreed in advance with organiser and gallery. More on live operations on the page drone live broadcast.
Behind the scenes: the drone team at “The 140 Festival”
Ground station under the tent, take-off spots on the rooftops around the museum, live image on remote and gallery monitor – and all of it in the rain. This is what the evening looked like for CINEQUADS X VR-COPTER.
FAQ
Can a drone be broadcast live at a world premiere?
Yes. The drone image goes by radio to the ground station and from there to the gallery or livestream. At “The 140 Festival” several drones flew in parallel for the broadcast.
How many drones does a big live event need?
It depends on the site and the run of show. For the festival at the Mercedes-Benz Museum six aircraft were in use: two Inspire 3, two Mavic 4 Pro, one FPV drone and one Freefly Alta X.
Do drones fly in the rain?
The pilot decides, depending on wind and weather, whether to fly. Light rain is possible with an Inspire 3 and the right preparation – in heavy rain, strong wind or if safety is in doubt, the drone stays on the ground.
What does a drone team for a live event cost?
A shoot day with a drone team starts at €1,300 net, with Inspire 3 and cinema setup at €2,400 net, and as a combination of drone, FPV and car-to-car at €3,900 net – each including pilot, equipment, insurance and permit coordination.
More projects
- Drone live broadcast: live feed for gallery and stream
- Drone filming for events
- Aerials at the Mercedes-Benz Museum with Mick Schumacher
- All projects
Request a live drone team for your event
Phone +49 151 22840959 · info@vr-copter.de
