Airlines have used the advent of ADS-B tracking to create massive sky art seen by millions on Flightradar24. With Qantas saying goodbye to the Queen of the Skies with a 63,000 square kilometer kangaroo, we thought it time to revisit other sky art drawn with airliners.
An enormous “Roo”, July 2020
Qantas retired the last of its 747s this week and VH-OEJ flew a giant Roo after departing Sydney one last time.
Turkish Airlines’ Turkish flag, April 2020
To celebrate Turkey’s Nation Sovereignty Day and Children’s Day, Turkish Airlines drew a Turkish Flag across central Turkey.
El Al’s 747 with a 747, November 2019
El Al retired its 747 fleet in 2019 and as a final tribute to the aircraft it drew a 747 over the Mediterranean Sea.
Airbus’ A38Tree, December 2017
Airbus got in the Christmas spirit and drew a tree during one its standard A380 test flights. Aircraft drawing Christmas trees has become a bit of a sport.
Boeing’s 787 with a 787, August 2017
While conducted an ETOPS test on the Rolls Royce Trent 1000 TEN engine, Boeing managed to draw a 787 with a 787.
MAX with MAX, February 2017
A Boeing 737 MAX decided to sign its name during an endurance test flight.
Love is in the air, April 2015
In April 2015, two Air Malta employees got married and the airline celebrated with a special flight. Other airlines including Cathay Pacific, Air New Zealand, and Virgin Atlantic have all drawn their own hearts as well.
Who drew it best?
Which bit of sky art is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.
Eduardo Martins
Max of course
Burak
Turkish Flag of course.. worst one is MAX.. maximum risk..
Murat
Turkish Airlines’s is best
Prabhu Budhathoki
Qantas retired fight VH-OEJ and Boeing’s 787 drew perfect one
Cumali
Turkish Airlines,Turkish flag
Thomas Flynn
I have to go with the “Flying Roo”. Great memories on QF’s 747s!
Enis
Turkish Airlines’ Turkish flag, April 2020
To celebrate Turkey’s Nation
Görkem kara
Turkish Airlines’ Turkish flag, April 2020
Antun Paulin
787 and ElAl 747. IMHO
Tuna
Off course turkish flag is the best one because this was the largest flag in the world and it was drawn by the most handsome aircraft B777.
Mert Ilkinonu
Turkish Airlines’ Turkish flag is the best sky art 🇹🇷
Sally
Turkish Airlines is the best
Osman Esen
Turkhis flag.
Jack
Totally think that the 787 drawn by the 787 was the best, because of its size, plus it’s level of detail. Got to give second place to Qantas though, pretty good detail and some pretty tight turns for a 747.
Mustafa Yazıcı
Hi;
I really liked the “B787 with B787” plane drawing and the heart shape “Love is in the air” But; My favorite shape is my flag drawn on my country.
THANK YOU.
Mustafa Yazıcı.
Stephen Baker
Love the Qantas tribute, sadly on its way to the boneyard….truly the end of a era.
Doğan Yiğit
Turkish flag is the best
Tuğçe Çetiner
Turkish Airlines, Turkish Flag is the best one!
Umit
Turkish
Murat
Turkish Airlines 😍
can tekindal
I choose Turkish Airlines , April 2020
Joseph
Turkish Airlines’ Turkish flag, April 2020 İs best of the best.
Johan
The Quantas Roo is definitely my favourite.
Cansu
Turkish Airlines’ Turkish flag for celebrating Turkey’s Nation Sovereignty Day and Children’s Day ❤️
Sefa OZKAYA
Absolutely turkish flag,really awesome
Muhammed Ucar
I think Turkish Airlines’ Turkish flag, April 2020
To celebrate Turkey’s Nation Sovereignty Day and Children’s Day, Turkish Airlines drew a Turkish Flag across central Turkey.
Devir ACAN
The flag of a nation TURKISH AIRLINES FLAG iş the bedt
Furkan
Turkish Airlines’ Turkish flag, April 2020
Anonymous
Turkish Airlines for sure
defne akdağ
Of course Turkey❤️
Egeberk
1- Turkish Flag
2- Boeing 787
3-MAX
4-Roo
Raychin
Qantas and Max 🙂
Atilla
Turkish Airlines is best<3
Eric Leong
The 787 looks very well defined because it is so large! The Qantas Roo is probably the saddest, to see the B747 go after 50 years.
Patrick Monsieur
Qantas giant roo is definitely the best one.
Kerbal2346
That roo is so smooth and nice, so for me, it’s a tie between the roo and the 787
John Chiappini
787.
Bearstastegood
787 draws a 787. Just about perfect. Close runner-up, El Al’s 747
ND
Both me and my son intently went through each one of them many times over. Each one of them is simply mesmerizing. My son loves the max … But my favourite one is the two hearts over Malta !
Riley McCollor
I love the 787 by the 787 because it was so huge and cool, but I love the roo because it was a retiring flight, and I love the tree and flag because that is celebrating what that country loves, so I just cannot choose between any of them
Maximilian Bal
I like the kangaroo from Qantas as it is a good send off for the “Queen of the Skies” and is also symbolic to Australia.
Felix
I like the ‘Roo’ and the ‘A38Tree’ best. They are a sign of Planning, organizing, and then drawing it succesfull!
Greg Peterson
Qantas Kangaroo followed in a very close second place by the 787 with a 787.
Gary Brookhouser
Toss-up between Boeings’ 787 w/787 and the Boeing 737 Max.
Osman
Turkish Airlines’ Turkish flag, April 2020
Bill Beacom
I think the Being 787 over the US is the best ‘airplane art’ picture! It covers a huge area, and is almost perfect in shape. The A38 tree is also quite good, and it looks like it took a lot of flying technique. Well done.
İsmail celebi
Turkish flag is the best
Tina
I think 787 with 787 was the best!
Drew Foster
I believe the Qantas and El-Al are solid ties. Great detail from precision flying. Runner up the massive 787 over the U.S.
seck
le kangourou
Herbert Beld
1. The Roo
2. El-Al Cyprus
3. A 38tree
Phil Hounam
Deffo, the 787 is best. I hope no Photoshopping went on though.
John Polley
Definitely the Flying Kangaroo
Kutlu Akçoral
Turkish Airlines’ Turkish flag
Michael Hayden
OK I am biased, but the Flying Kangaroo has to take first place, especially when you consider some of those very sharp turns to get in the “tail end” and the nose. In fact it was necessary to climb and descend to make the turns. Oh yes the aircraft was also carrying 14+ hours fuel!
Ian Simpson
Qantas “ROO” is the best for me!
Larry Woods
I like the 747 over contenental USA. It’s beautiful.
Lacey
The giant Roo 👏🏻
Mark Harber
Love the flying kangaroo
Micael
Most def “Boeing’s 787”!
joe crisci
the giant roo of course
peter harvey
There all very good, but being an Aussie i favour the Roo
Robin
The Flying Kangaroo by the Queen of the Skies B747
Bailey R E
Methinks Qantas, then EL AL…
M K
1. Qantas
2. The 787
William Forsyth
Probably biased but the Flying Kangaroo is the best!
Dan
The flying Roo looks fantastic!
Bar
ELAL!
James Algar
Qantas 747 “Roo”
Benison Paul
Hi, As for me the Giant Flying Kangaroo Is the best. It’s because of the curves and shape is not that easy and they ( The Flight crew) have done their best.
Charles Borg Giuliano
The Air Malta one is a follow up of St Valentine’s 2014. Here is the link that includes the flightradar24.com screenshot:
https://www.airmalta.com/information/about/news-overview/news-detail/love-is-in-the-airplane-Captain-proposes-to-cabin-crew-with-heart-shaped-fly-path-on-Air-Malta-Love-Plane
Martin K Ashoff
All arts are well done. Salute to the pilots and respective airlines. Of all I like the USA art best as it is perfectly design flown and covers the US from the Canadian border to the Mexican border.
Ulf Norman
El Al 747
Steven L
Wee bit biased, but the QF roo for me.
Grant
Qantas, what a fantastic tribute. The 747s have served the Aussie traveller well for so long. farewell old friend.
Mark
Roo
Ygytt
🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷 Turkish Airlines Turkish flag 🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷
Roger Cripps
The roo was the best. Sad to see the “queen” go.
James Bond
787 with 787, by far.
Martin Kavanagh
A little biased I guess, but I have to go with the Flying Kangaroo. A special mention though for the 787 for its sheer size!
Terence Bragg
787 with a 787
Muhammed
Definitely Turkish Airlines’s
Theresa Lupcho
787
Erika Brunner
Lovely Qantas 747 of course!
Constantin M.
787 Over US
Helicat
All are amazing, so hard to choose. The 787 is enormous, and awesome. The Max is very cool too. Kudos to all the planning and execution on all of these!
paulo rivetti
Boeing’s 787 with a 787, August 2017
Mario
Et bien j’adore le 787 avec le 787 !!! Remarquez bien que tous les desseins sont vraiment exceptionnels !!! Bravo à tous ! 😉
Andreas
787 ETOPS test was great. The A380 Christmas Tree was also pretty good.