JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C> –
The World Famous GEICO Skytypers Airshow Team is a flight squadron of six vintage World War II airplanes performing precision flight maneuvers at airshows across the U.S. The diverse flying expertise of the team members aligns perfectly with the unique components of their overall performance.
The Skytypers are the only civilian squadron currently appearing at airshows flying World War II aircraft. There are only 11 SNJ-2 aircraft still in existence and the Skytypers fly six of them. Their show consists of low-level, precision formation flying combined with a thrilling aeronautical demonstration highlighting the unique capabilities of the aircraft while adding a richness to the history of aviation and its core foundation.
Skytyping is like nothing else you will see in the skies over Joint Base Charleston. Five planes fly abreast less than 250 feet apart while typing dot matrix style messages in the sky. The lead aircraft utilizes a custom programmed computer with specialized radio commands to signal the other aircraft to release puffs of non-polluting, Environmental Protection Agency approved smoke at various intervals. Skytyping is 17 times faster than skywriting and produces a letter every four seconds. The messages, as tall as the Empire State Building and up to eight miles wide, are visible up to 15 miles in any direction or nearly 400 square miles and remain readable for up to 15 minutes.