"If I were in Greece I would form a heart over Thessaloniki."
Dimitri Neonakis is a very different pilot. The Greek-Canadian from Messinia who lives and works in Nova Scotia (Canada), is known for his inspiring flight path images, which have been a bright spot amid the covid pandemic.
With his airplane, he creates figures in the sky to send messages of support and solidarity to everyone on the ground below.
However, his good deeds don't stop at airborne designs, as he lifts off to lift the spirits of children with disabilities.
In 2017, he created the "Dream Wings" initiative, a free of charge aviation program dedicated to Children with Special needs providing them with the education and the thrill of flight.
Neonakis has already made 350 different flights with 500 children (all of them entirely at his own expense) and as he has said, each of them is a special experience.
“Giving them this unique opportunity, it means the world to them and to me,” he said.
“Each one is unique. I have succeeded in curing some children from their fear of flight just by teaching them to understand, by bringing them close to the airplane and working with them. It’s such a wonderful feeling to finally get those children to beat their fears and jump on the airplane!”
Pilot Dimitri Neonakis is the epitome of hope and kindness.