A spectacular 3D model of Syrax, the dragon belonging to Rhaenyra Targaryen from the HBO series 'House of the Dragon,' has been flying over Glasgow, Scotland, for two consecutive mornings. The aerial display serves a dual purpose: promoting the third season of the popular show and celebrating the opening of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The dragon model was created by the German aeronautic company Airstage and is designed to mimic realistic movement. Dennis Gutowsky, an operator and pilot for Airstage, described the dragon as having 23 moving parts, including articulated rudders, propellers, a tail, and wings. The model boasts an eight-meter wingspan and utilizes impellers in its legs for flight.
Constructed over three months by a team of 14 specialists who dedicated nearly 3,000 hours to the project, the Syrax model weighs 13 kilograms. Its detailed texture was achieved using vacuum-formed Depron foam over a carbon fiber and aluminum skeleton, with the surface finished by hand using airbrushed paintwork. The design was reportedly inspired by Leonardo da Vinci's early concepts for flying machines.
This particular dragon model was previously deployed in London to coincide with the launch of 'House of the Dragon' season three, with its construction utilizing 3D scans directly from the series' production.