The Supermarine Spitfire is, hands down, the most famous British WWII fighter out there.  Built in many variants, the Spitfire fought alongside the Hawker Hurricane in the early dark days of the war during the Battle of Britain and served through the entire war and beyond.  Powered primarily by the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, the elegant lines of the Spitfire inspired a nation as young boys dreamed of growing up and taking one aloft to “mix it up with Jerry!”

This beautiful tattoo was created by Paul Fuller of Sharpside Tattoo Studio in Seaford, East Sussex, England.  Paul notes the wearer, who happens to be a microlight pilot himself, chose the Mark IX variant of the Spitfire as “he feels it’s the best all round development of the Spitfire before being overpowered by the Griffon engine!”  If you can believe it, the tattoo is a coverup of a heart and a bulldog.

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Another point for the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk - what’s quickly becoming the most popular aircraft for aviation related tattoos.  It seems the iconic sharks teeth and aggressive lines of the P-40 makes for exciting tattoo work! Ironically, the P-40 was considered to be somewhat “Second String” for most of World War II — yet its image was immortalized by groups like the American Volunteer Group.

This tattoo was created by artist Spike Bieganek of Spike-O-Matic Tattoo in Madison, WI.

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  The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird was one of the most famous aircraft to emerge from the famous Lockheed ADP (Advanced Development Projects) division nicknamed “The Skunk Works” under the leadership of Clarence “Kelly” Johnson.  The Skunk Works team were responsible for some of the most advanced and secretive aircraft in the air.  The U-2 Spyplane, the F-117 Nighthawk Stealth Fighter, and the F-104 Starfighter were just some of the designs that came into the public eye — many others may never be known!

This tattoo is a forearm piece illustrating the top view of the SR-71 Blackbird.  The Mach 3 capable, high altitude spyplane is one of the most unique and recognizable aircraft designs of the jet era.  The choice to use black and gray shading for the tattoo is fitting as the plane most always was seen in public in its stealthy black paint.

Artist Brendan Mudd of Inkfish Tattoo in Maidstone, Kent UK created this unique piece.

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