A pilot got into the festive mood by flying his plane in the shape of a Christmas tree in the skies over Germany, radar-watchers have spotted.

The captain left the port city of Hamburg and then traced the pattern, complete with lights, as he flew as far as Stutggart, about 400 miles (650km) away before returning five hours later.

Some early “Season’s Greetings” from one of Flight Test Teams in Hamburg 🎄✈️ https://t.co/k71QhMrgmF @flightradar24 pic.twitter.com/FURAnB3qp3 — Airbus (@Airbus) December 13, 2017

There were no passengers aboard the test flight.

On Twitter, Airbus said: "Some early "Season's Greetings" from one of Flight Test Teams in Hamburg."

Image: The phallic symbol drawn by the warplane

The shape was much more polite than a crudely drawn penis etched out in clouds by a US navy warplane.


At the time, Vice Admiral Mike Shoemaker, the commander of Naval Air Forces, told Sky News: "The Navy holds its aircrew to the highest standards and we find this absolutely unacceptable, of zero training value and we are holding the crew accountable.

"Sophomoric and immature antics of a sexual nature have no place in Naval aviation today. We will investigate this incident to get all the facts and act accordingly."