Skywriting is a unique variation of aerial banner ads. The latter is done by printing the ad on a long banner or on a billboard and then dragging it through the sky over a crowd. Skywriting, on the other hand, is actually using the sky as the canvas on which to write the message.

Skywriting is done by injecting a paraffin oil into the exhaust of the airplane, causing a white smoke to form. When this is done at strategic times, then the result is forming letters and thus a message for all below to read. The letters are huge, a mile tall, and written somewhere from 7000 to 17,000 feet altitude.

A variation of this technique has developed recently called among other things, skytyping. This is done by five or six planes at once, flying in parallel across the sky. A computer on the lead plane is programmed with the message. As the planes fly across the sky, the computer signals when each plane is to release the oil into the exhaust. The result is a series of dashes in a straight line. Each dot or dash is a part of a letter, written in disconnected lines as a flashing sign might. So while skywriting messages are made by one or two planes with solid lines, skytyping messages are made by five to six planes with dotted or dashed lines.

Each technique has its advantages and disadvantages. Sky typing allows the message to be made much quicker and thus can be longer and read in its entirely. A single plane skywriting takes 60 to 90 seconds to form one letter. The letters with skytyping are formed in a few seconds. This means the entire message is still visible when it is finished. A long message in skywriting might mean the first letters have drifted away by the time the message is completed. Also faster work means people don’t get bored waiting for a message to be completed.

Also skywriting requires extra skill to maneuver a plane to form letters. He is somewhat of an artist making the message uniform and attractive. On the other hand, the skytyping pilots only need to fly in a straight line. The computer decides when to make the white smoke that will form into letters.

Skywriting is done with one or two planes and this means it is much cheaper than hiring five or six planes to make one message. Geico insurance has made skytyping famous as a fleet of planes forms their name with puffs of smoke against the sky.

Both methods have things in common. First, the preparation is simple. No need for printing or color design is necessary. The skywriting pilot plans how to write his message backwards so the people below see it frontwards. The skytyping pilots simply enter the message in the computer and let it do the work. Second, the message in both cases is environmentally friendly. The paraffin smoke is harmless to nature.

Skywriting, skytyping, and aerial advertising have something in common as well. All of them use the canvas of the sky, presenting their message to an audience without competition. Dollar for dollar on skywriting costs, advertisers are learning that this is an effective way to make their message known.