“We call them Mandrakes”: Czech firm unveils whistling drones at Paris Air Show
Amid the roar of engines and the hum of innovation at the prestigious Paris Air Show, a small Czech company is turning heads with something unusual: whistling drones.
At the 55th edition of the event, which this year focuses on space technologies and unmanned aerial systems, the Czech startup FlyinDiamonds is showcasing its tiny, glowing quadcopters affectionately nicknamed “Mandrakes”.
With their four rotors, bright white light, and piercing whine, these drones are so unsettling en masse that their creators named them after the mythical mandrake root and the idea of mandrakes screaming when pulled out of the ground, a notion popularized by the Harry Potter series.
Co-founder of FlyinDiamonds Tomáš Jelínek says the high-pitched tone they emit on landing is a practical feature to help operators locate them in tall grass or dense terrain.
“It whistles like the mythical mandrake, so we decided to call them Mandrakes. Right now you hear just one. But when dozens or hundreds start whistling and beeping like this, it becomes almost unbearable.”
The Paris Air Show, held at Le Bourget Airport, brings together 2,400 exhibitors from over 48 countries. The focus on drone technology this year is no coincidence. The war in Ukraine and recent Ukrainian operations like Spiderweb have highlighted the vital role of drones in modern warfare.
The firm FlyinDiamonds was established in 2022 and started out creating drones for light shows at summer festivals. But since then, the family-run business has evolved into a serious drone enterprise. The company now also produces industrial drones capable of millimeter-precision 3D scanning of construction sites and even drones that wash building facades.
Looking ahead, Tomáš Jelínek says, they see drones playing a key role in emergency response:
“We see a real future in emergency response. As part of an integrated system, a drone could deliver a defibrillator or medication to a patient long before a doctor could reach them — potentially saving precious minutes.”
FlyinDiamonds is also developing military-grade UAVs. One of their prototypes on display is an FPV (first-person view) drone, controlled via goggles that stream the camera’s live feed.
“The pilot sees exactly what the drone sees. He guides it to the target via remote control. These drones are used for reconnaissance — and, in some cases, for missions like taking out tanks.”
The company plans to open the Czech Republic’s first dedicated drone testing site later this summer, marking another milestone in the steady rise in the Czech drone industry. From festival skies to potential frontlines, FlyinDiamonds is a telling example of how fast the drone industry in Czechia is evolving and how much noise a small Czech firm can make.
