Aerial display system with marionettes articulated and supported by airborne devices

A flight control method, comprising:

• at a plurality of multicopters, receiving a flight plan unique to each of the multicopters from a ground station;
• concurrently operating each of the multicopters to execute the flight plans within an air space under control of a local control module executed by a processor;
• and during the operating of the multicopters, supporting a string puppet with a body and articulatable appendages attached to the body with the multicopters, whereby the string puppet is supported and articulated in the air space by movement of the multicopters.

An apparatus for use in an aerial display, comprising:

• a marionette with a body and articulatable appendages attached to the body with a plurality of connecting elements;
• a plurality of UAVs;
• and tethering lines extending between the UAVs and the connecting elements, wherein the UAVs have synchronized movement during a show time period through a display air space to support and articulate the marionette to move between at least a first position and a second position.