I will admit, I waited a while before posting this tattoo… we wanted to display it at just the right time because we didn’t want such an amazing piece of tattoo artistry overlooked.  In fact, when I first saw this incredible tattoo of a General Electric GE90 turbofan engine as a cutaway image, I knew this was a feature to cherish.  So now, as the aviation world looks to the future this week at the Singapore Airshow in Asia… I felt it was the perfect time to post this tattoo of the ultimate evolution in commercial aircraft engines.

(click the image below for the full post and three larger photos of the tattoo in process)

And for good reason! This tattoo truly illustrates how far tattooing has evolved in the past few decades.  The amazing level of detail, shading, and technical precision that combined to create this technical triumph of turbine aircraft engine technology on a human canvas is staggering.

In fact, the subject of this tattoo and the tattoo itself are a lot alike.  The General Electric GE90 family of high-bypass turbofan aircraft engines are some of the most efficient, advanced, and powerful jet engines of the modern age of aviation.  The GE90 holds the world record for most thrust produced by a turbine engine and powered a Boeing 777-200ER that set the world record for the longest flight by a commercial airline aircraft.  On top of all this, it remains one of the largest engines ever built… and is the basis for the GEnx turbofan engine that has been developed to power the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Much like the engine, this tattoo illustrates a portion of what could be considered the peak of the art of tattooing… the line work, detail, and skill all combine to create an image that would look right at home in blueprints, 3-D CAD renderings, or detailed technical illustrations.  The fact that it was created on skin… a flexible living canvas with challenging curves and textures, proves that tattooing has not only evolved into an artform that mirrors that of other media, but perhaps even outranks in some cases because of the unique challenges that the medium presents to the artist.

Certainly the wearer, a dedicated aviation enthusiast and aspiring commercial pilot himself, made a very wise choice when he chose artist Brett J. Barr for this creation.  Brett is currently tattooing at Primal Tattoo Gallery in Orlando (Casselberry), Florida, so be sure to visit Brett’s portfolio for more amazing black and grey mechanical tattoo pieces as well as a diverse range of other amazing styles as well.  We are honored to have such a unique tattoo by such a talented artist featured here at Tattoos In Flight.

And thank you to our contributor for sending his masterpiece along as well as his patience… may the engine you have chosen to symbolize your career path, provide power and thrust on your journey into success within this fantastic industry of those who look to the sky and see more than just the clouds… they see the future!

Please click on the image above or the link below for three larger images of the tattoo in process and complete.

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I thought it was a good time to change things up a bit after a string of military aircraft. Therefore, I’d like to present a tattoo of one of my favorite heavy airliners, the McDonnell Douglas DC-10.

First flown in August of 1970, the DC-10 met a specification for a long-haul airliner similar in capacity to the Boeing 747, but capable of operating from shorter runways.  In direct competition with the Lockheed L-1011 Tristar which arrived in the market a year later, the DC-10 eventually was able to distinguish itself by finding a second engine supplier (which helped cut costs) and creating a longer range aircraft earlier than the L-1011 series did.

Northwest Airlines was the final operator of the DC-10 in passenger service - with the last DC-10 being retired from service on January 8, 2007.  The remaining flyable DC-10 aircraft now fly on as modified cargo aircraft, many with FedEx alongside the MD-11 — the replacement for the DC-10.  In fact, most FedEx DC-10’s have been modified to carry the designation MD-10 which allows pilots with MD-11 type ratings to also fly the -10.  The upgrade included the upgrade of the cockpit to Advanced Common Flightdeck (ACF) standards which eliminated the flight engineer position as required on most DC-10’s.

This tattoo was passed on to us by the wearer who had a special attachment to the DC-10, Northwest Airlines, and a Captain for the airline:

My Father, a 39-year Northwest Airlines Captain passed away after a four and half year battle with cancer. He has been my greatest inspiration to follow my dreams and take to the sky to leave my own contrails. The DC-10 was his favorite aircraft and I could think of no better way to represent that than on my chest!

With Northwest Airlines being merged with Delta Air Lines in April 2008 and the retirement of the Northwest Airlines brand, it seems this tattoo will also live on as a tribute to the airline his father committed his flying talents to over nearly four decades.

The tattoo was created by artist Eddie at Skin Factory Tattoo in Las Vegas, NV.

Please click on the image above or the link below for a larger image.

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Easily the world’s most recognizable airliner - the Boeing 747 turned 40 years old on February 9th.  On that day in 1969, test pilots Jack Waddell and Brien Wygle took the aircraft aloft from the new Boeing facility built specifically for the 747 at Paine Field in Everett, WA.

Being the aircraft that inspired the term “Jumbo Jet”, the 747 revolutionized high-volume passenger air travel and continues to be operated on long-haul routes worldwide by many airlines.  The latest commercially produced version, the 747-400, concluded production in 2009 and Boeing is currently re-evaluating the 747-8 program which would continue the line, but the current economy may stall or cancel the program.

One of the most famous 747’s, Air Force One - the aircraft of the president of the United States, made the news this past week as President Barack Obama took his first trip aboard the aircraft to an event in Williamsburg, VA.  There has been talk of a possible replacement of SAM 28000 and 29000 — the specially designed 747-200B aircraft, and some believed the Airbus A380 would be a possible option. EADS (manufacturer of the A380) has stated that it will not bid, which leaves only Boeing with the 747 as the option for a replacement ship.

Today’s tattoo features the Boeing 747 and ironically comes to us from an artist in Russia — home of the Antonov An-225 Mriya — an aircraft ranked with the 747 as one of the largest aircraft ever built.  Artist Andrey Smolentsev of Mir Tattoo in Moscow, Russia created the beautiful tribute piece to the jumbo jet for us to admire today.

Please click on the image above or the link below for a larger image.

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Today we’re glad to feature one of the worlds most adored and beloved airplanes — the Douglas DC-3.  Also known as the C-47 Skytrain and the “Gooney Bird”, the rugged DC-3 was one of the first successful passenger airliners as well as a popular transport and paratroop aircraft during World War II.  This particular tattoo shows a DC-3 as a C-47 with a bit of WWII-vintage nose art adorning the ample forward fuselage.

The colorful tattoo along with the propeller and wings was created by artist Shawn Willmorth at The Hive Tattoo & Piercing in Moses Lake, WA.

See a larger shot of the tattoo by clicking on the link below or the image above.

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Flying in from Rochester, NY, this Boeing 727 tattoo was sent to us by an airline fan who took his love for the famous three-engine airliner and made a permanent tribute to it on his skin. He said he always loved the three tone livery of United Airlines and chose that as the color scheme for his tattoo.

The tattoo was done by artist Kevin at Flesh for Fantasy Tattoo in Rochester, NY.

For a larger image, please click on the link below or the image above. 

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