Pepsi World Record Banner

Back in the early 2000s, Pepsi asked us to fly the biggest banner ever flown. So we did just that.

To make it happen, we had to completely rethink our approach to banner design. We were venturing into uncharted territory—testing the limits of flight capability and material strength.

The result was a 4,200-square-metre banner, created entirely using the traditional cut-and-sew method. Every piece of artwork was hand-cut and stitched—an incredibly time-consuming process.

This project demanded more than just scale. Our standard materials couldn’t handle the stress, so we worked directly with a specialised manufacturer in Asia to develop a custom high-tensile fabric with a strong weave. It exceeded expectations, giving us the strength-to-weight ratio needed to fly larger banners while keeping them clear and straight in the air.

During this process, we also invented the “ram-air” wing—fitted to the top rear corner of the banner. Acting like a mini fabric aircraft wing, it generated lift at the tail, dramatically reducing drag, flapping, and droop.

Just five weeks later, the world’s largest banner was airborne over Sydney, towed by helicopter using our proprietary HOBS (Helicopter Overland Banner System)—a system invented in the 1990s by the founder of Airvision Aviation, now the global standard in aerial sling-load advertising.

The client was ecstatic. We coordinated with major TV networks, who sent their own helicopters to film the event. The footage ran across national news.

Around this time, we were also deep into R&D on digital printing. After two years of development, we cracked the formula—an ink and machine combination that worked with our banner materials. This breakthrough changed everything. We produced the world’s first fully digital-printed aerial banners for Coke, Mazda, and Nestlé. These allowed for full-colour, high-resolution branding—an industry first.

The Coke and Mazda banners each logged over 400 flight hours across Australia—still our most flown banners to date, and a testament to their design and durability.

Today, all our banners are digitally printed, offering perfect colour matching and faster turnaround times.

Following the Pepsi campaign, we went even further—designing the world’s first airborne, inflatable 3D Pepsi can. Standing 20 metres high, this giant can filled with air mid-flight, becoming a spectacular piece of flying brand theatre.