I will admit, when I first saw this tattoo… I had no idea what kind of helicopter it was.  Considering I can usually find and ID aircraft within minutes (years of reading and aviation interests), I was pretty stumped!  My track record for identifying helicopters is pretty poor — since I mistook a CH-53E Super Stallion for a MH-53 Pavelow.  Oops.

I was glad when I found a photo of an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior on GlobalSecurity.org — mystery solved!  The OH-58D is one of a family of helicopters built by Bell Helicopter based on the 206A JetRanger product. The OH-58D Kiowa Warrior is the US Army’s fielded armed reconnaissance aircraft and is equipped with a Mast Mounted Sight (MMS) with a Television System — the barely visible bubble that hasn’t been outlined above the rotors.

Though still being worked on, the black and gray work on this work-in-progress tattoo looks great so far.  Artist Chris Vennekamp of All or Nothing Tattoo in Atlanta, GA takes the credit for this one and I’m interested in seeing the completed piece when it’s done!

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Being the most produced multi-engine aircraft in history (with over 18,000 built), the Consolidated B-24 Liberator seems like a fitting aircraft to be immortalized in ink.  More crews flew aboard the B-24, and the aircraft flew more missions and dropped more ordinance than any other aircraft used during World War II.  Though the B-24 wasn’t as popular in the media as it’s sistership, the B-17 Flying Fortress, the B-24 still made up the backbone of the American strategic bombing campaign during the war.

The B-24 saw service in both the European and Pacific Theaters… including the harsh climate of the Aleutians and the heat of North Africa. 

In tribute to the B-24, one of the greatest aircraft of all time, we present this beautiful black and gray tattoo.  Artist Brett J. Barr of Built 4 Speed Tattoo of Orlando, FL completed the piece.

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No doubt you have seen the amazing footage of US Airways Flight 1549 floating down the Hudson River after an amazing emergency ditching by Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III after the Airbus lost power in both engines nearly immediately after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport after apparently colliding with a flock of Canadian Geese. 

The fact that Sully was able to not only bring the airplane back to Earth with no power and land smoothly in the waters of the Hudson River immediately after taking off and while navigating the busy airspace around the metropolis of New York… but also the fact that all 155 survived and were evacuated off the plane within seconds with very few injuries is nothing but miraculous.  It’s a testament to the experience, professionalism, and courage of the entire crew of the airliner that afternoon.

Marisa at Needled.com, a native New Yorker herself, was so in awe of Sully and the crew that it motivated her to add a tribute to them in her blog yesterday.  She and I both noticed the Facebook fan site for Sully and immediately joined… and over 17,000 others have too!

Kudos to the crew of US Airways Flight 1549 — you are heroes to us in the aviation world!

As an aside, if anyone hears or sees anyone who has marked this event with a tattoo tribute to Sully or the crew, please let us know right away!  Email us at tattoosinflight@gmail.com.

I was happy to check our email this morning when we got this tattoo sent to us… and though I usually feature spaceflight tattoos on Saturdays, I thought it would be perfect to feature it on Sunday still.

Launched on August 20th, 1977, Voyager 2 became one of the most productive space probes ever, with visits to four planets and their moons including Uranus and Neptune — both previously unexplored.

It was the flyby of Neptune and it’s moon Triton that inspired the tattoo featured here.  Our contributor, Heather, explains:

“When Voyager 2 flew by Neptune in 1989, NASA streamed the images live to several planetariums. My dad took me to see the images as they came in, and it’s one of my big childhood memories, and one of the things that really got me into astronomy and physics. So for my 30th birthday, I got a tattoo of Voyager 2 with Neptune and Triton.”

The tattoo was created by Matt Dunlap of All or Nothing Tattoo in Atlanta, GA.

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The mighty Lockheed C-130 Hercules is one of the most recognizable transport aircraft in the world today.  First flown on August 23, 1954, the “Herky Bird” is one of only five aircraft types that have met and surpassed the 50-year mark of continuous service in current inventory.  The C-130 is still being produced in fact, as the C-130J.  The C-130 was originally designed as a troop transport, but it’s scope has broadened over the years to include service as an inflight refueler (KC-130), gunship (AC-130), and even use by the US Navy and Air National Guard to support operations in Antarctica on skis!

For many who crewed on or currently fly aboard the C-130, the airplane holds a special place in their heart. For the subject of this entry, his passion for the C-130 Hercules extended to the point where he had one permanently placed on his forearm as a tattoo tribute to the timeless transport.

Artist Matt Bremer of Sinnin Skinn Inkworks in Orfordville, WI did the great piece in black and gray for the client with great results!

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What more can be said about the North American P-51 Mustang that hasn’t been said here on Tattoos In Flight before?  Though it’s a close call as to whether the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk or the P-51 Mustang holds the title for “Most Tattooed Airplane” here at the site, I still am amazed at how many people choose the Mustang as a permanent tribute to airpower. 

This particular P-51 tattoo — a beautiful color backpiece — was created by tattoo artist Carlos Rubio of Club Tattoo in Mesa, AZ.  The flatness of the upper shoulders and back makes it easier to appreciate the straight lines and edges of the wings of the P-51.

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