When a Cessna Turned the Sky Into a Canvas
A routine flight in a Cessna R182 Skylane became an extraordinary piece of aviation art when American pilot Benjamin McDaniel used flight-tracking technology to recreate Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa across the skies of Arkansas and Oklahoma. The project demonstrated how aviation, navigation and digital technology can combine to create artwork visible only through flight-tracking platforms.
Rather than using traditional skywriting, McDaniel relied on careful flight planning and precise flying to draw the famous portrait through his aircraft's recorded route. The result was a giant digital image that only became visible once viewed through flight-tracking software.
Published: 2 October 2026
Written by: Shashwat Dwivedi
When Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa in the early 16th century, he could hardly have imagined that his masterpiece would be recreated nearly 500 years later using an aircraft and flight-tracking technology.
On 18 September, American pilot Benjamin McDaniel flew a Cessna R182 Skylane from Bentonville, Arkansas, tracing a route across parts of Arkansas and Oklahoma that, when viewed through flight-tracking software, formed the unmistakable outline of the Mona Lisa.
AirNav Radar later published a 3D visualisation of the flight. Its reaction was perhaps understandable: "This might be one of the coolest flight paths we've ever tracked."
What makes the achievement particularly interesting is that it involved no smoke, skywriting or physical markings in the sky. Instead, the aircraft itself became the brush, while the tracked flight path became the artwork. Every turn, straight segment and change of direction added another line to the digital canvas until the face, hair, shoulders and iconic crossed hands gradually appeared.
The project also highlights the skill involved in flight-path art. Unlike a traditional artist, the pilot cannot see the finished image while creating it. The result only becomes clear when the completed route is viewed later through flight-tracking software. Accurate planning and execution are therefore essential.
CBS reported that McDaniel, who styles himself as the "Pilot Picasso", spent months planning the Mona Lisa project before completing roughly four hours of flying.
The challenge extends far beyond simply tracing a picture. A flight must still operate safely within the real-world constraints of aviation. Airspace restrictions, fuel requirements, weather conditions, aircraft endurance and the geometry of each turn all need to be considered during planning. What may appear to be a perfect route on paper could encounter obstacles or operational limitations once translated into an actual flight.
This was not McDaniel's first attempt at aerial artwork. He has created several other flight-path designs, sharing them through his @thepilotpicasso account. Just days after completing the Mona Lisa, he flew another elaborate route depicting a fingerprint alongside the words "you are loved."
His accompanying message was simple: "Call your family and friends to tell them you love them."
Flight-tracking platforms were originally designed to monitor and record aircraft movements. However, pilots such as McDaniel have found a creative use for a technology that most people associate with operational tracking and aviation data.
Da Vinci probably never imagined that one day the Mona Lisa would be recreated by an aircraft flying thousands of feet above the ground. Yet aviation continues to find unexpected ways of combining technology, creativity and human skill.
Key Facts
Benjamin McDaniel flew a Cessna R182 Skylane across Arkansas and Oklahoma on 18 September, tracing the outline of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa.
The artwork was not traditional skywriting and became visible through the aircraft's recorded flight path on tracking platforms.
AirNav Radar later produced a 3D visualisation showing the scale and complexity of the route.
McDaniel, who calls himself the "Pilot Picasso", reportedly spent months planning the flight before spending roughly four hours in the air.
Creating flight-path art requires much more than copying an image, with airspace restrictions, weather, fuel, aircraft endurance and turn geometry all affecting the final route.
The pilot cannot see the completed artwork from the cockpit, making accurate planning and execution particularly challenging.
McDaniel has produced other flight-path creations, including a fingerprint accompanied by the words "you are loved."
The project demonstrates an unexpected creative use for flight-tracking technology originally designed to record and monitor aircraft movements.
Flight-path art combines aviation skill, navigation, technology and creativity in a way that only becomes fully visible after the flight has been completed.
Related Articles
Planning growth, fleet changes or seasonal operations in 2026? Contact Brookfield to discuss your staffing and consultancy needs. Email: info@brookfieldav.com
Explore our full range of recruitment services, connecting aviation businesses with skilled pilots, aircraft engineers and industry professionals worldwide.
Author: Shashwat Dwivedi Aviation staffing and consultancy insights LinkedIn
