FLYING BY FOY LIMITED
Flying By Foy is a UK-incorporated theatrical flying effects and automation company serving Broadway, West End, film/TV, cruise ships, arena concerts, and corporate events worldwide through its proprietary Pegasus Automation System and patented mechanical flying technology.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1957
- HeadquartersBorehamwood, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What FLYING BY FOY LIMITED does
Flying By Foy is a theatrical flying effects and automation company established in 1957 by Peter Foy and incorporated in the UK in 1967 (originally as Foy Inventerprises). The company pioneered modern stage flight through a series of patented mechanical inventions, including the Inter-Related Pendulum (1954), Floating Pulley System (1958), Track-On-Track System (1962), Inter-Reacting Compensator (1977), and the first self-contained radio-controlled flying system (1990). It also provided weightlessness simulations for NASA's Gemini and Apollo programs. Flying By Foy operates globally from its headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada, with European operations in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire (UK) near Elstree Studios, and an additional North American office in Oakford, Pennsylvania.
The company's core product is the Pegasus Automation System, a modular platform comprising control consoles (DMAC, LXE, SAC), Windows-based motion control software (Pegasus R3), and a family of specialized winches (DW-V3, CW, BR-X, IW-V, PS3) engineered to meet U.S. and European safety standards. This automation stack is complemented by patented flying systems (Inter-Related Pendulum, Floating Pulley, Track-On-Track, Ultra-Lift) and purpose-built studio facilities for rehearsal and green-screen filming. Revenue is generated through three streams: project-based professional services deploying Flying Directors to supervise installations and performances; sale and rental of proprietary automation equipment; and licensing of patented technologies to theatres and production companies. Customers span professional theatre (The Lion King London for 18+ years, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Bat out of Hell), film and television (Dancing on Ice, Britain's Got Talent, Finding Neverland), cruise ships (Royal Caribbean International), arena concerts (U2, Robbie Williams), the Athens Summer Olympic Games, and corporate events (Sony Mobile World Congress, Ford Paris Motor Show). Acquisition is primarily reputation-driven through a Request a Quote form on the company website, with no evidence of active digital marketing, channel partners, or resellers.
FLYING BY FOY LIMITED firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FLYING BY FOY LIMITED
- Legal name
- Flying By Foy Limited
- Website
- https://flyingbyfoy.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1957
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Flying By Foy is a UK-incorporated theatrical flying effects and automation company serving Broadway, West End, film/TV, cruise ships, arena concerts, and corporate events worldwide through its proprietary Pegasus Automation System and patented mechanical flying technology.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FLYING BY FOY LIMITED industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Theatrical Flying Effects and Stage Automation
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Flight Control Actuation Systems (Fly-by-Wire, Servos, Actuators) (IMABAFAJ)
Keywords
Where FLYING BY FOY LIMITED is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Borehamwood
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
FLYING BY FOY LIMITED business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Theatrical Flying Effects Services: Project-based professional services providing flying effects for theatrical productions, films, television shows, corporate events, and live performances. Includes deployment of Flying Directors and technical staff to supervise installations and performances.
- Automation Equipment and Systems: Sale and rental of proprietary flying automation systems including Pegasus control consoles, winches (DW-V3, CW, BR-X, IW-V), and software. Equipment sales to theatres, production companies, and cruise ship operators.
- Licensing of Patented Technologies: Licensing of proprietary flying systems and automation technology to theatres and production companies for their own installations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
FLYING BY FOY LIMITED product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Flying by Foy provides theatrical flying effects services for Broadway, West End, film, television, corporate events, cruise ships, arena concerts, and themed entertainment, deploying Flying Directors to supervise installations and performances worldwide. The company also designs, manufactures, and sells its proprietary Pegasus Automation System (control consoles, performer flying winches, and motion control software) and licenses patented mechanical flying systems including the Inter-Related Pendulum, Floating Pulley, Track-On-Track, and Ultra-Lift systems.
Product overview
Flying By Foy operates as a theatrical flying effects company with a unified product ecosystem centered on the Pegasus Automation System. The system comprises proprietary control consoles (DMAC, LXE, SAC), motion control software (Pegasus R3), and specialized winches (DW-V3, CW, BR-X, IW-V, PS3) that work together to enable safe, controlled flying of performers. These components integrate through Pegasus software to provide complete motion control for productions ranging from Broadway shows to television competitions. The company also offers patented flying systems (Inter-Related Pendulum, Floating Pulley, Track-On-Track, Ultra-Lift) and professional studio facilities for rehearsal and filming.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pegasus Automation System A complete line of control consoles, performer flying winches, and software representing the company's flagship automation offering for stage flying, with a modular design allowing components to be combined for productions of any size.
- Theatrical Flying Effects Services Project-based professional flying effects services for Broadway, West End, theatres, ballet, opera, theme parks, cruise ships, concert tours, film, and television productions, with Flying Directors deployed to supervise installations and performances worldwide.
- Studio Facilities Purpose-built studio space in Elstree/Borehamwood ideal for performance rehearsal and television/film green-screen work, with on-site Flying by Foy equipment and personnel.
Quantifiable outcome
- The Lion King London has run successfully for over 18 years with Foy flying effects
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use FLYING BY FOY LIMITED
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
FLYING BY FOY LIMITED technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature11 records
FLYING BY FOY LIMITED partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves2 records
Expansion highlights5 records
FLYING BY FOY LIMITED competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Kinesys: UK-based motion-control company specializing in automation and rigging for entertainment; now part of TAIT but historically a peer competitor to Foy in performer-flying and stage-automation projects.
- Cirque du Soleil: Global live-entertainment company with in-house capabilities for aerial and performer-flying effects; both a potential customer/collaborator and a vertically integrated peer building similar rigging technology in-house.
- Movecat: German manufacturer of chain hoists, winches, and motion-control systems for entertainment and stage rigging; competes with Foy's winch and automation product lines for theatre, touring, and event customers.
Others
- Antari Lighting & Effects: Manufacturer of special-effects equipment (fog, haze, CO2, confetti) for concerts, theatre, and events; not a direct flying-effects competitor but supplies the broader atmospheric-effects toolkit used alongside aerial effects in live entertainment productions.
Broad incumbents
- Neg Earth Lights: UK lighting and production-services provider for live events, concerts, and broadcast; competes for the same enterprise entertainment production budgets as Foy on tours, TV shows, and corporate activations.
- Production Resource Group (PRG): Largest global provider of entertainment production services (lighting, video, audio, rigging) for concerts, theatre, and events; competes with Foy for project mandates and bundles automation into larger integrated contracts.
- Tomcat USA: Staging, rigging, and structural-systems manufacturer serving concerts, theatre, and live events; competes with Foy on the staging and mechanical-rigging layer of theatrical productions.
- White Light: UK-based entertainment production-services company supplying lighting, audio, video, and rigging to West End, touring, and corporate events; competes for production-company budgets that include flying-effects line items.
Direct peers
- TAIT Towers (including Stage Technologies): Global stage automation company that acquired Stage Technologies, a direct competitor in performer flying and motion control for live entertainment; competes head-to-head with Foy on Broadway/West End rigging contracts and serves the same production-company buyers.
- ZFX Flying Effects: Germany-based theatrical flying effects company providing performer flying systems, winches, and Flying Director services across European theatre productions — the closest functional analog to Foy with overlapping product portfolio and customer base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
FLYING BY FOY LIMITED social profiles
Digital presenceFLYING BY FOY LIMITED financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FLYING BY FOY LIMITED leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
FLYING BY FOY LIMITED funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FLYING BY FOY LIMITED M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about FLYING BY FOY LIMITED
What does FLYING BY FOY LIMITED do?
Flying by Foy provides theatrical flying effects services for Broadway, West End, film, television, corporate events, cruise ships, arena concerts, and themed entertainment, deploying Flying Directors to supervise installations and performances worldwide. The company also designs, manufactures, and sells its proprietary Pegasus Automation System (control consoles, performer flying winches, and motion control software) and licenses patented mechanical flying systems including the Inter-Related Pendulum, Floating Pulley, Track-On-Track, and Ultra-Lift systems.
Is FLYING BY FOY LIMITED a public or private company?
FLYING BY FOY LIMITED is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was FLYING BY FOY LIMITED founded?
FLYING BY FOY LIMITED was founded in 1957. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is FLYING BY FOY LIMITED based?
FLYING BY FOY LIMITED is headquartered in Borehamwood, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does FLYING BY FOY LIMITED make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Theatrical Flying Effects Services are the primary driver. The others are automation Equipment and Systems and licensing of Patented Technologies.
Who are FLYING BY FOY LIMITED's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Kinesys, Cirque du Soleil and Movecat. Antari Lighting & Effects is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Neg Earth Lights, Production Resource Group (PRG), Tomcat USA and White Light. Direct peers are TAIT Towers (including Stage Technologies) and ZFX Flying Effects.
Does FLYING BY FOY LIMITED have an API?
No public API is recorded for FLYING BY FOY LIMITED.
What industry is FLYING BY FOY LIMITED in?
FLYING BY FOY LIMITED's product category is Theatrical Flying Effects and Stage Automation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAFAJ, Flight Control Actuation Systems (Fly-by-Wire, Servos, Actuators). Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3812.