The Aerosparx Display Team are a British civilian aerobatic team specialising in night-time air displays with pyrotechnics. The team is led by well-known airshow pilot Guy Westgate, who pioneered night air displays in Europe, and Rob Barsby. Since they were founded in 2015, Aerosparx have performed at dozens of airshows and other events in Europe, as well as a small number of shows further afield. Aerosparx frequently combine their display with other elements, such as drones, ground fireworks or other aerobatic teams, such as the Flying Dragons.
Active: 2015-present
Country: 
United Kingdom
Home base: Husbands Bosworth
Operator: Private
Size: 4 aircraft (2 in display)
AIRCRAFT FLOWN
Grob 109b (2015-present)
Display
The Aerosparx display is adapted to fit the requirements of each venue and event. Many of their displays are bespoke choreographed spectacles, timed to fit with music, light, drone and firework shows on the ground.
However, a typical Aerosparx display for an ordinary airshow typically lasts around eight minutes and consists of the following components, regardless of whether it is performed during the daytime or at night:
- Close formation loops
- Solo aerobatics (two consecutive solo routines of two minutes each, or two simultanious solo routines at different ends of the display area)
- Tight, circular tailchase
- Low level close formation orbits
The team use the Grob 109b motorglider, meaning that energy must be managed carefully during the routine. This means that the aerobatic portion of the show must be initially performed at high altitude (typically around 3,000ft), descending gradually and completing the show with non-aerobatic manoeuvres typically at around 200ft (but sometimes as low as 30ft).
During the day, the team often use coloured smoke, with fireworks being used at night. These can be fitted to the wingtips, wheel spats and trailing edges. Aerosparx are able to carry more pyrotechnics and perform longer displays than most other teams. Along with Redline Airshows in the USA and Team Rocket in Canada, they are one of only three teams in the world capable of performing formation aerobatics with pyrotechnics after civil sunset.
Drones
Aerosparx was the first aerobatic team to experiement with the use of drones. Initially, the team began using drones for filming purposes, becoming the first formation team to be awarded a CAA Display Authorisation that allows flying with unmanned aircraft in 2019. The number of drones was gradually increased and, starting in 2021, the team began investigating the possibility of flying with lit drone swarms.
In 2023, Aerosparx performed the world’s first combined air display by manned aircraft and a drone swarm, while performing at the closing ceremony of the Dubai World Cup. They have since repeated this feat on several further occasions.
