PINK FLOYD'S FLYING
PIGS AND SHEEP
In 1976, Wilf got us the job of making 400 pyrotechnics sheep and pigs for the
Floyd’s animals tour. A 6 inch mortar fired a cardboard tube about 250 ft into the
air, when a delay fuse ignited a second charge that blew out the tissue paper animal (see
diagram below). Weights round its legs caused it to fill with air and float gently down to
ground. We set up a factory which employed about 12 people for three months. My main
preoccupation was quality control – if the tissue paper wasn’t folded exactly
right it didn't open out properly.
In the air they always looked a bit too small (about 6ft long), and
many stadiums prohibited their use. However they do look wonderful on film (with a
telephoto lens). |
