A spectacular world-first aerial stunt saw a giant flying replica of Syrax—the fan-favourite dragon from House of the Dragon—take to the skies above the Tower of London, marking the launch of Season 3 in dramatic style for HBO Max.
Against the backdrop of Tower Bridge and The Shard, the 8-metre wingspan dragon soared across the London skyline in a breathtaking fusion of fantasy, engineering and live spectacle.
A Dragon Takes Flight Over London
The enormous Syrax replica flew in three carefully choreographed flights over the River Thames, circling the Tower of London before swooping low toward the grounds in a display that stunned onlookers.
Created by German aerial specialists Airstage, the dragon weighs 13kg and was built over three months using a carbon fibre and aluminium skeleton, with vacuum-formed Depron foam and hand-finished airbrushed detailing.
It features:
- 8-metre wingspan
- 23+ moving mechanical components
- Impeller-driven leg propulsion
- Fully articulated head, neck and tail
- Top flight speed of up to 35 km/h
International award-winning pilots controlled the model as it launched from the River Thames, sweeping past London landmarks before circling its historic finale at the Tower.
Fire Meets Fantasy at the Tower of London
Adding to the spectacle, the dragon was also seen alongside a controlled fire display in front of the White Tower—creating a dramatic visual moment fitting the summer solstice atmosphere.
The event blended medieval history with modern fantasy, echoing the themes of power and legacy that run through the series.
Deputy Governor of the Tower of London, Anna Kimber OBE, said the installation reflected the shared storytelling power of both history and fiction:
“The Tower of London has stood at the heart of some of the most dramatic chapters in our history for nearly 1,000 years… 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.”
Stars of Westeros Attend Exclusive London Reception
Following the aerial performance, a private evening reception hosted by Harriet Rose welcomed cast members from the HBO hit series.
Attendees included:
- Kieran Bew (Hugh Hammer)
- Tom Bennett (Ulf White)
- Clinton Liberty (Addam of Hull)
- Abubakar Salim (Alyn of Hull)
Their characters—known as the “Dragonseeds”—are central to the unfolding Targaryen power struggle, as they are recruited by Rhaenyra Targaryen in the fight for the Iron Throne.
How the Syrax Dragon Was Built
The Syrax model is a near-exact recreation of the dragon ridden by Rhaenyra Targaryen in the series, developed using 3D scan data from production to ensure screen-level accuracy.
Key engineering highlights include:
- 3,000+ hours of specialist work
- Team of 14 engineers and designers
- Seven test flights before public debut
- Carbon fibre and aluminium internal frame
- Precision motion programming for lifelike flight behaviour
Nils Schlenther, COO of Airstage, described it as one of their most complex builds to date:
“After months of R&D and complex construction, the team studied the movement of Syrax…we’ve been constantly refining the motion to achieve realism.”
A Landmark Launch for House of the Dragon Season 3
The stunt celebrates the launch of Season 3 of House of the Dragon, which premieres on HBO Max in the UK and Ireland from 22 June 2026.
New episodes will be released weekly, with the season running through to its finale on 10 August 2026.
Based on George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, the series continues the saga of House Targaryen nearly 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, exploring civil war, succession, and dragon-fuelled conflict.
Learn More: HBO Max Official Site
Watch House of the Dragon Season 3
Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes released weekly.
