Make beer, not war. That was the simple message written by a Polish pilot flying out of Poznań this weekend. The pilot of the Tecnam P2008 JC spent nearly four hours in the air and 2 hours 20 minutes creating the sky writing.
As ADS-B transponders have become standard in much of the world and the flight paths visible in real time, pilots have taken to the skies to draw or write all manner of things. Most popular are hearts and Christmas trees, but written messages are common as well. In smaller aircraft, such as this one, the pilots are often building flight hours toward new certifications or gaining proficiency with a certain type of flying. Rather than just flying in circles or criss-crossing the country, a pilot can sharpen their skills and write a message in the sky.
View playback of the flight here >>
Pilots will usually program their route beforehand using digital flight planning tools that allow them to trace the route and establish waypoints for their journey. Depending on the aircraft, the flight plan will either be entered into the flight computer and flown with autopilot or flown by hand.
What are some of your favorite pieces of sky art? Let us know in the comments below.
![An example full flight summary response from the Flightradar24 API: { "data": [ { "fr24_id": "0987654321", "flight": "SK1415", "callsign": "SAS1415", "operated_as": "SAS", "painted_as": "SAS", "type": "A20N", "reg": "SE-DOY", "orig_icao": "ESSA", "orig_iata": "ARN", "datetime_takeoff": "2023-01-27T05:15:22", "runway_takeoff": "12R", "dest_icao": "EKCH", "dest_iata": "CPH", "dest_icao_actual": "EPWA", "dest_iata_actual": "WAW", "datetime_landed": "2023-01-27T06:15:10", "runway_landed": "27L", "flight_time": 3600, "actual_distance": 1007.74, "circle_distance": 6245, "category": "Passenger", "hex": "4A91F9", "first_seen": "2023-01-27T05:06:22", "last_seen": "2023-01-27T06:18:10", "flight_ended": "true" } ] }](https://www.flightradar24.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Flight-summary-API-cover-300x148.jpg)
![An example full flight summary response from the Flightradar24 API: { "data": [ { "fr24_id": "0987654321", "flight": "SK1415", "callsign": "SAS1415", "operated_as": "SAS", "painted_as": "SAS", "type": "A20N", "reg": "SE-DOY", "orig_icao": "ESSA", "orig_iata": "ARN", "datetime_takeoff": "2023-01-27T05:15:22", "runway_takeoff": "12R", "dest_icao": "EKCH", "dest_iata": "CPH", "dest_icao_actual": "EPWA", "dest_iata_actual": "WAW", "datetime_landed": "2023-01-27T06:15:10", "runway_landed": "27L", "flight_time": 3600, "actual_distance": 1007.74, "circle_distance": 6245, "category": "Passenger", "hex": "4A91F9", "first_seen": "2023-01-27T05:06:22", "last_seen": "2023-01-27T06:18:10", "flight_ended": "true" } ] }](https://www.flightradar24.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Flight-summary-API-cover-768x378.jpg)
6 Responses
That’s the Coolest Strong Message! Cheers, Ian Petchinik 🍻 😍
I’m the pilot…send me the beer 🍻 😱
Thanks again, Ian, for your unfailing good humour, enthusiasm, knowledge and professionalism in all you prepare and post for us. Such a joy, and we learn heaps. Warmest greetings from Auckland, New Zealand. Janet and Grant Dickson
To the Polish pilot re beer – what an amazing use of flying skills! Most will agree with the sentiment except wine drinkers who would like a substitute message, but the sentiment is just bang-on!
Haha just great. And he is right.
Congratulations dear pilot, you have done great sky art, I strongly recommend your name & hard work to Guinness record committee My vote for you forever