Every December, as huge chunks of the world deck the halls and trim the trees, a special breed of pilot decides that standard flight patterns are beneath (pun intended) them. Because why fly a straight line when you can create Grinch sky art across the winter sky?
This holiday season, we’ve spotted not one but two ambitious attempts to paint everyone’s favorite Christmas villain (let’s keep the debate civil in the comments) across the sky. Using Flightradar24’s historical data, we can compare these aerial masterpieces and ask the important question: which Grinch is, uhm, Grinchier?
The contenders
Flight A took to the skies from Wood Country Airport of Bowling Green, Ohio. We’d like to think that the artist chose the location as it contains the word “green”, which is very fitting for the occasion. Also, we haven’t found any hard evidence to underpin this theory. The sky brush used was a Piper PA-28-140, registered as N6914W, built in 1965.
Flight B departed from Canada’s Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ/CYHZ), clearly the bigger airport of the two. Not that this will be a factor considered in our verdict, we simply point that out to fill out space. Pilot Dimitri Neonakis, representing the maple leaf nation, used a 2004 Cirrus SR22, registered as C-GZPT, when creating his festive art.
Artistic merit
Flight A took off at 17:37 UTC (12:37 local time) on December 21st and quickly found itself flying westbound, climbing towards the 6000 feet that was the mean altitude used throughout the trip. We award bonus points for making the most of the flight, as even the initial leg technically was part of the drawing, turning into part of the stairs our beloved Grinch climbed in the finished drawing. All in all this impressive piece took a total time of 3 hours and 6 minutes to draw.
Flight B chose an eastbound track, departing December 16th at 14:29 UTC (10:29 local), flying for approximately 15 minutes before putting on his beret (all true artists wear berets, so this absolutely happened) and going to work. Mister Neonakis chose another classic Grinch pose, the “straight-back-hands-resting-defiantly-by-the-waist”, and spent the majority of the flight at around 2000 feet. It took him 2 hours and 30 minutes to draw the entire thing, and we especially nod and silently applaud details such as the eyes and hands.
And the winner is
Clearly Flight B. Or no, Flight A is the one. Or… Argh! No, we will not be able to single out a winner here. Instead, and in true democratic style, we will let you, the esteemed Flightradar24 art crowd, pick your favorite and motivate your choice in the comments below.
Regardless of your preference, we here at Flightradar24 humbly tip our hat to both pilots for creating absolutely stunning pieces of sky art. Well done, bravo!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!
127 Responses
Flight B!!
Both are winners!
I like the B. This amazing!
I like the B a little bite more but A is also good
Both are good, but my preference is flight B
Flight A.
Dear editor/author,
You used the specific state name, Ohio, so please also use the specific province name, Nova Scotia, rather than generalizing it as Canada. Maybe use Ohio, United States and Nova Scotia, Canada. 🙂
Pedant alert!
Flight B
Potato, petato.
I think we’ve located the real Grinch!
I agree with Mel.
We Canadians do not divide.
Coast to coast we are one.
Provinces and politics aren’t part of this question. What do u like better.
🤓🤓☝️☝️
Sounds reasonable. Actually I wondered where the latter took off from until I zeroed in on a map.
Exactly! This happens to places in Wales too! Very often the name of the Welsh county is missed off reports with the name being used as a generality instead of being more specific.
Flight B
B is the best, more clean lines and a beautiful full view of The Grinch
B
Flight b
My vote would be for B, ( Pilot Dimitri Neonakis, representing the maple leaf nation, used a 2004 Cirrus SR22,). Design is clear I have seen other sky art from this pilot and all are impressive
Clearly, figure A.
A Grinch, just like a Grinch should look.
Flight B!! Merry Grinch Christmas to one and all!
Definitely B , he just can’t be beat is my opinion Mr . Neonakis 💯 Also he has a Heart of Gold , which is so heartwarming these days 💛 Wishing you a very Merry Christmas 🎄🎅🏻
My vote is for Flight B. I may be a little biased as he is my Brother-in-Law. Dimitris has been doing sky art for many years 2020 actually. His first piece of sky art was a heart that he mapped around Portapique, Nova Scotia in the aftermath of the tragic mass shooting that occured.
Dimitri did it first and best.
Both are very good, but B takes the prize.
For me it was flight B but I am amazed at both. They have both done a truly artistic rendering ! Better then I could draw and they did it with a plane . Congratulations to both !
My favorite is Flight B. The details and accuracy that Dimitri was able to capture is simply amazing. It is clear to see that the control he has in maneuving this flight path is the result of nothing other than his skill and talent. Also, Flight A brings a sense of mischief where as Flight B feels more reflective. There really is no better time of the year to slow down, and reflect before ringing in a New Year.
Mischief is the Grinch’s middle name and the area size of the artwork is huge. Very well done. “A” is my vote getter. Eh. 😅
Agree
Bravo! To both Pilots!!👏
I have been fortunate enough to have flown on one of Dimitri’s generous flight experiences. My father in law who himself had a pilot’s license since he was 16 flying around the province in his home built airplane got to enjoy a surprise night flight over Halifax NS in C-GZPT.
Un diez a los pilotos!! Pero la figura del vuelo B me parece más desafiante y original (cómo diciendo aquí estoy yo)Mi voto al vuelo B 👍🎄🛩️
Flight a is a more recognizable version of the grinch and has my vote!
Kudos to all the pilots who took to the skies to be so creative.
Stanfield Airport is in Nova Scotia, Canada, FYI.
I agree!
As pilot of “flight A”
I want to thank you for this article as well as thank Dimitri for his excellent flight path! Hopefully we’ve spread plenty of Christmas cheer through our works!
I love both Grinches. Yes B is a clear Grinch outline but A is much more fun – he has stairs! He showed his tippy-toes climbing up and also included collar detail.
Not going to opt for either (sorry) as it’s been great fun. Thank you both pilots, it’s just lovely.
Flight A has my vote hands down. It’s clearly the more technical of the two.
My favourite is flight B. Well done to both pilots for their sky art and thank you!
Shoutout to pilot A for his previous aerial nativity scene!
Is it possible to see that one? TIA
Thanks for this!
Why the AI illustration? It looks terrible. :-/
Pilot B!!
Flight A is the larger and more detailed one. 👌🏻 No offense, but it looks like a lot of friends and family of pilot B are in here. 😂 Great job either way.
Flight A! The sneaky Grinch for the win!
Flight B, both of them were good but flight b was just a bit better.
Flight A
Flight B does it for me, but both are very good. Merry Grinchmas to all.
Flight B Dimitri is a such a good person,and does do much for the less fortunate, especially kids. He’s had taken many on a flight, a big supporter of the Children’s wish foundation! Go Canada!
B is the clear winner
Fly B very very Grinch!
Both pilots are phenomenal. Congratulations!
Why can’t it be both? 🙂 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
They are both beautiful, but B has the edge with my vote.
Flight B for sure.
I think b it is more iconic and a look like santa
Definitely Flight A.
Absolutely masterful …..BOTH , subject matter is fitting for 2025
Voto por el B.
Aplaudo a ambos pilotos. Maravilloso trabajo.
FELICES FIESTAS!!!
Flight B
opção B
I am totally puzzled as to how a pilot can do that. Does this mean that ATC has to continually tell the pilot to make the proper turns? I’m baffled.
If we guess wrong, are we obligated to help cover the winners fuel cost? For me, they both are winners in my book as they’ve accomplished something only a limited number of people in the world could do. Now for the next challenge, how about depicting a battle scene from Star Wars on May the 4? If we had 50 or so aircraft and carefully planned flightpaths… it would be epic!
Flight A – took a look of concentration for a long period of time.
Flug B
Wow, both are skilled pilots and it really boils down to the artwork that each chose to highlight his flying skills. The Flight B is more technical requiring closely parallel flight paths in opposite directions for where Grinch’s body and hands meet, for example. The Grinch’s eyes are nicely done too. Flight B is the clear winner for this competition!
Flight B. Congrats to both very talented pilots.
Flight B
Both are great!
Thank you, Sky Artist!
I vote for B!
Maybe Mel is the real Grinch. It is a festive time when trolls should be in bed.
Definitely flight B
Not to be wishy-washy, but to pick A or B would be to sell short the other. Both are excellent! I say this as one who coudn’t fly straight line or a decent circle. My admiring congratulations to both pilots.
I Líke everthing Very Nice!
Flight B hands down (just like the Grinch’s hands😉)!
Very Nice good work !
Both are awesome. But I have to go with flight A.
Flight B for me🏴
Flight B is hands down the best!
Un grand merci aux 2 pilotes. Quel plaisir pour les yeux, en ces temps difficiles pour certains.
Paix et joie à partager
Flight B! Mr. Neonakis has been flying all sorts of great designs in Nova Scotian skies for a while now – bravo!
Both excellent. A appears to be a bit more intricate but both made me smile and capture the personality of the character. Well done!
Flight A for me, I can see the Grinch going up the steps with the sack full of nabbed presents. Praise for both, but for me, definitely flight A!
Lot B! Dużo lepsze wykonanie.
Lot B! Dużo lepsze wykonanie
Both Grinch depictions are amazing. I have to vote for B just because of the details. Hats off to both talented pilots.
Though I would like to pick A….because this is closer to home.. Flight B is more precise and detailed. The sr22 pilot was literally 10/10 that day. Although there is a difference with a piper and the sr22….B is definitely the winner 😂 🏆
It has to be B
Flight B!!
B
Yes, I, must agree that “Flight B” is the winner. I stand and applaud both for their great work. However, a tip of the hat to “Flight A” for having the courage and stamina to spend 3 hours and 6 minutes in his creation. Well done to both!
Flight B definately
What is the B-Grinch waiting for? I think the A-Grinch should be the winner – a little bit far from well known face but heavy loaded. What did he steal ? or did he made a deal?
Sans contestation possible, vol B mais Bravo, malgré tout au pilote du vol A: il faut le faire
Both did a great job keep it up
Fligh B because it’s more clearly grinchy. Kudos to both pilots as it can’t be easy.
Both are absolutely amazing!
I like Flight B the best!
Flight B caught my eye immediately so I vote for it, although when I had a good look at Flight A, I realised what a great job that pilot did too.
Flight B
Grinch B is a frontal view and symmetrical, making it easier to accomplish. Looks neat!
Grinch A is a side view and is more difficult to create. The steps add motion to the Grinch.
Although I like Grinch B a lot, my vote would go to Grinch A because of its difficulty to accomplish.
Flight B is the winner!
Flight B, hands down!
flight a
Volo B: pura poesia!
B
Flight B
Definitely Flight B!
Not just because I am from Canada, or that I visited the lovely province of Nova Scotia in October, but the sheer attention to detail of Flight B got my vote.
But both pilots deserve congratulations
Merry Christmas all!🎄
Both pilots deserve every bit of credit mapping out the route, however my vite is B
Merry Christmas and Happy New year to all
Flight A. Grinch creeping up the stairs was a great addition. Both are very good. Thanks to both creative pilots!!
Flight B!!
Flight B. Really nice details and quite precise
It has to be B, and that B all there is to say on the matter. Dont B daft, vote B. I may or may not B Canadian….
Both were very good, but I definitely choose flight A. The pilot captured the true Grinch personality in that silhouette!
They are both incredible!!!
I vote for flight A.
6000 feet,
60 yo aircraft
6 minutes (and 3 hours) flight duration
For the approaching 2026
Definitely stylish performance
Both are absolutely great but I think A, no wait B. It has to be a draw as they both are instanantly recognisable and the detail is fantastic. Well done and thank you to you both, Merry Grinchmas.
Flight B
B has my vote also! Although A is pretty darn impressive!!
Volo B
Flight A
Flight B but great respect for the two
B
Fight B!
Flight A is the best hands down!
Congrats to both pilots and thanks for the inspiration to do the same here in Switzerland, Europe!
I underline the technical challenge of flight A as well as the path being part of the stairs, and the purity of the lines of flight B which emphasize the cartoon drawing in high-res from a distant point of view.
Many happy landings in 2026!
My vote is B: whilst I appreciate them both I think B is clearer. I love that these pilots would take on a task like this to bring joy to so many.
“B” hands down. And who cares what country they were from?.
Only the artwork counts.