Skywriting could return to the UK for the first time in 60 years. What did they write in the sky? WASH HANDS. Skywriting was banned there in 1960 due to safety concerns.
I can't remember seeing any skywriting in my adult years. However, there are a number of companies who do this: Aeogram says they are Canada's leader in aerial advertising since 1984. Another is Flysigns Aerial Advertising operating in Toronto for more than 20 years. Pricing is by square meter of the billboard. There's even something called sky typing.
What is there to learn about this interesting activity?
Most sources attribute the development of skywriting (1922) to John C. Savage, an Englishman. In that year, Captain Cyril Turner wrote “Daily Mail” over England and “Hello USA” over New York. The American Tobacco Co. then picked up the technique for their Lucky Strike cigarettes.
A letter can be as high as one mile and take 60-90 seconds to create.
A message can stretch up to fifteen miles.
The best conditions of course are few clouds, little or no wind, and cooler temperatures. Then the letters may be seen for 30 miles in any direction and can last 20 minutes.
Writing occurs usually at altitudes from 7,000-17,000 ft.
The paraffin oil vaporizes at 1500° in the heat of the plane’s exhaust and is environmentally safe.
The skywriting that appeared in the movie, “Wizard of Oz,” was done by special effects in a tank with an oil and water mixture.
One company in New York “writes” more than 50 marriage proposals a year in the sky.
I was at the Orchid Show in February at the Royal Botanical Gardens this year. The poor lighting conditions and crowdedness of the plants and people are always challenges. This isn't like visiting Longwood Gardens and being able to photograph at one's own pace. Somehow there always is a lovely shot to capture amidst the excitement and appreciation of this wonderfully diverse flower.
