Suzanne Asbury-Oliver, 1958- Forest Grove, Oregon
“Skywriting is very much like a dance routine,” says Asbury-Oliver. “I count off seconds just
like a dancer would count off steps. Everything is choreographed. Timing is essential. Lose
count, no matter what the distraction, and you count on failing at skywriting.”
The 1929 Travel Air D4D open cockpit biplane flown by Suzanne for most of her skywriting
career, has a spectacular history but after some 80 active years on the job, it was retired in
2000 and now hangs from the ceiling at the Smithsonian’s new National Air and Space
Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles Airport.
“Skywriting is very much like a dance routine,” says Asbury-Oliver. “I count off seconds just
like a dancer would count off steps. Everything is choreographed. Timing is essential. Lose
count, no matter what the distraction, and you count on failing at skywriting.”
The 1929 Travel Air D4D open cockpit biplane flown by Suzanne for most of her skywriting
career, has a spectacular history but after some 80 active years on the job, it was retired in
2000 and now hangs from the ceiling at the Smithsonian’s new National Air and Space
Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles Airport.
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