Not-so-tiny Dancer: pilot draws a ballerina

Discussion:

This is one of the most challenging problems we face in making change in the general aviation world--frankly, the culture, which is based on the unique sense of freedom one gets as a pilot.

But the idea that someone uses this much leaded gas, to create a piece of 'art' that can only be appreciated by so few connoisseurs has to become less acceptable.

In early April a pilot in North Carolina made their contribution to the growing body of sky art with a ballerina west of Raleigh-Durham. The pilot was operating a Piper PA-28-161 from the Wings of Carolina Flying Club out of Raleigh Executive Jetport.

A 3D rendering of the ballerina flight path over North Carolina by N8116J.

The flight path took about an hour to complete for a total flight time of 1 hr 33 min. The finished drawing is 25 miles (40 kilometers) tall by 11.7 mi (18.8 km) wide.

The availability of advanced flight planning software for pilots operating smaller aircraft has increased the intricacy of sky art over the past few years. As pilots use these flights to build their certification hours and improve their skills, we look forward to what they’ll think of next.