TORONTO -- A Dartmouth, N.S. pilot known for his elaborate flight path drawings took to the sky Thursday to draw a fist in a show of solidarity for the anti-racism movement.
鈥淩acism is gaining ground on us. It was always there, throughout history, especially here in North America,鈥� pilot Demitri Neonakis told CTVNews.ca by phone Friday.
鈥淪eeing the latest news, my way to express not anger, but disbelief... an array of emotions鈥� was to draw it in the sky.鈥�
Measuring 330 nautical-miles, the flight path, which took the shape of a clenched fist, was spotted on and quickly shared on social media by some who described it as a 鈥渂eautiful鈥� show of solidarity.
鈥淚 had a lot of up drafts which created moderate turbulence yesterday, making things difficult. But I was saying to myself, 鈥業 need to nail this one,'" he explained.
The clenched fist is the latest of Neonakis鈥� flights to attract attention. Over the last several months, the pilot has taken to the sky on multiple occasions to spread messages of hope, drawing a heart over the province after the mass killing in Portapique, N.S., and honouring Capt. Jennifer Casey, killed in the Snowbirds crash in May.
鈥�2020 has given me many reasons to fly, unfortunately,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen people tell me that it made their day or spread hope鈥� it gives a purpose to this thing that I do, that I love.鈥�
Neonakis, who has been flying for over 20 years, is the founder of , a program that provides children with disabilities the opportunity to co-pilot a flight. Since 2017, Neonakis has flown with more than 500 children as his co-pilot.
Though the program is facing an indefinite pause in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Neonakis says his sky drawings have allowed him to find more 鈥渂eautiful moments鈥� in the air.
