A giant dragon swept across the London skyline in a dramatic display at the Tower of London to mark the launch of the third series of Game of Thrones spin-off House of the Dragon on HBO Max. An eight-metre model of Syrax was brought to life using production scans from the hit show.
Dragon Construction and Flight
Built by German aeronautics firm Airstage, the dragon features 23 moving parts and flew using impellers built into its legs to create lifelike motion. Weighing 13kg, the model took three months and nearly 3,000 hours to build by a team of 14 people using foam, carbon fibre and aluminium. The dragon was crafted from vacuum-formed Depron foam around a carbon fibre and aluminium frame, finished with detailed airbrushing for a lifelike look.
Launch Event and Celebrity Attendees
An evening reception following the flight was hosted by Harriet Rose and attended by stars of the show. Kieran Bew, Tom Bennett, Clinton Liberty, who play Dragonseeds Hugh Hammer, Ulf White and Addam Of Hull, recruited as Dragon Riders by Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) in the series, and Abubakar Salim, who plays Alyn of Hull were all in attendance.
Expert Commentary
Nils Schlenther, chief operating officer at Airstage, said: “This is one of the most intricate flying models we have ever created. After months of R&D and complex construction, the team studied the movement of Syrax and underwent over seven test flights to ensure her flight was as close as what we see in the show as possible. We have been constantly refining and getting the motion as realistic as possible and so the crowd’s reaction was amazing to see as we know we got it right for the fans.”
Series Details
Celebrating the return of House of the Dragon, the show is based on George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood and is set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, telling the story of House Targaryen. The eight-episode season launched on June 22 and will air new episodes weekly on HBO Max, leading up to the season finale on Sunday 9th August.
Tower of London Statement
Anna Kimber OBE, deputy governor of the Tower of London, said: "The Tower of London has stood at the heart of some of the most dramatic chapters in our history for nearly 1,000 years. While dragons may belong to the world of fantasy, the themes at the heart of House of the Dragon – power, ambition and the struggle for the throne – have strong echoes in the stories that played out within these walls. We're delighted to welcome this spectacular stunt to the Tower, where history and fantasy will meet for an unforgettable moment."
