BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — On a serene winter evening, just days before Christmas, Tim Pearson settled into the cockpit of his PA-28 Piper Cherokee, driven by a modest mission: to bring a smile to a few faces.

Operating out of Wood County, Pearson meticulously charted a flight path that would see him etch a Christmas nativity scene across the night sky, a spectacle later visible on flight-tracking platforms.

Initially, Pearson imagined only a small group of friends would notice his festive flight. To his surprise, it resonated far beyond his expectations.

“It was the Christmas season, and it seemed appropriate,” Pearson remarked. “I simply wanted to spread some positivity.”

Pearson, a private pilot for more than five years, flies out of Wood County Airport and began his training with Eagle Air Flight Club. Aviation is a passion he pursues when time and weather allow. 

As time continues to pass, he said he hopes to continue building his skills as a pilot, with plans to pursue an instrument rating and possibly additional endorsements in the future. 

Pearson said he’s flown creative patterns before, often sharing them privately with friends. This time, the season made it feel special. 

He said he chose to fly at night to avoid heavy air traffic and distractions, then returned home and sent the image to a few people he thought would appreciate it.

“I never expected it to go anywhere beyond that,” Pearson said.

However, as the image spread online, Pearson said he was surprised by how many people connected with it.

“The internet can be pretty harsh sometimes,” he said. “But the response was overwhelmingly positive. People seemed genuinely happy to see something uplifting.”

Pearson said the nativity scene reflected what Christmas means to him.

“It’s the reason for the season,” he said. “If it brought a little joy to people during the holidays, then that’s all I could ask for.”

Despite the attention, Pearson says the flight was never intended to go viral and was simply for fun.

He said he plans to continue flying creative routes simply because he enjoys it and because it gives him a chance to share moments of happiness.

“There’ll be more,” he said. “I like doing things that make people smile.”

As Christmas approaches, Pearson says he’s grateful his small gesture reached so many, a reminder that even something simple, traced quietly across the night sky, can carry a message of goodwill.