an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising a chassis, flight propulsion mechanisms operable to move the chassis in three dimensions, and a flight controller, wherein the flight controller generates or receives flight control signals indicating a position of the UAV in an air space and wherein the flight controller controls the flight propulsion mechanisms to move the UAV chassis to locations in the space indicated by the flight control signals;

a show interface on the chassis;

thematic cladding supported by the chassis wherein the thematic cladding extends around and encloses at least a lower portion of the chassis of the UAV;

an onboard show system including show effect devices moved in the space by the UAV; and

an onboard show controller in or supported by the UAV and coupled to the show interface,

wherein the onboard show controller includes a show control module and memory storing a show plan,

wherein the show control module generates show control signals based on the show plan and based on at least one of timing and location signals for the UAV in the space provided to the onboard show controller via the show interface,

wherein the show effect devices are actuated to generate show effects in response to receipt of the show control signals,

wherein the show plan comprises a plurality of scripts defining timing and locations of operations of the show effect devices, and

wherein the onboard show controller selects a first one of the scripts to generate the show control signals based on a first comparison of the timing and location signals of the UAV with a flight plan and show effect locations and timing defined in the show plan and then selects a second one of the scripts to generate the show control signals based on a second comparison showing the UAV deviating from either the locations or the timing defined in the show plan, whereby the onboard show controller provides real time show contingencies based on real time performance of the UAV in the space.