The Martin B-26 Marauder was one of the most misunderstood medium bombers in World War II.  It wasn’t a movie star like the larger B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber and wasn’t connected to an iconic mission like its fellow medium bomber, the B-25 Mitchell was to the Doolittle Raid.  The Marauder even suffers from mistaken identity with the Douglas A-26 Invader because of the change in naming standards of the U.S. Air Force after WWII. Despite these challenges, the Martin B-26 Marauder made a name for itself in the eyes of the crews who flew it and historians agree that it was one of the finest bombers of WWII.  We are proud to feature this highly detailed color leg tattoo of the Martin B-26 Marauder today by tattoo artist Carlos Rubio of Disciple Tattoo in Chandler, AZ.

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For most people, the biplane may seem like an aircraft design relegated to the past history of aviation rather than a part of the current aircraft being used commercially. This impression is correct for the most part as only a few biplane aircraft are currently used in commercial aviation work, but one specifically stands out… the Antonov AN-2, originally designed in 1946 by the USSR and actively produced until 2002… 55 years after its first flight!  The popularity and importance of the AN-2 to transportation and aviation within the countries that comprise the former USSR including Russia and the Ukraine as well as other nations like China and other Eastern European nations where the aircraft has been exported makes the AN-2 a fitting feature on Tattoos In Flight today, with this outstanding example of realistic black and grey tattooing by Ukrainian tattoo artist Denis Sivak.

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Our featured aviation tattoo on Tattoos In Flight today honors a revolutionary aircraft that never truly had the opportunity to take shape — the Avro CF-105 Arrow high-altitude jet interceptor aircraft designed for the Royal Canadian Air Force by Avro Aircraft Limited in Ontario, Canada in the late 1950′s.  This tattoo by Canadian tattoo artist Derek Dufresne of Fleshworks Tattoo Studio in Victoria, British Columbia pays tribute to the aircraft that many aviation historians felt could have been the pride of the Canadian aerospace industry.

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The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk is one of our most featured aircraft on Tattoos In Flight and it’s no mystery why aviation enthusiasts choose the P-40 as the subject of their tattoo. Because of this popularity, it takes a really outstanding tattooed version of the P-40 to catch our attention… and this upper back tattoo is indeed one of the most outstanding examples we have seen!  Created by tattoo artist Phil Garcia at Ink Philler Studios in Port Hueneme, CA, just North of Los Angeles in Ventura County, this P-40 Warhawk tattoo is a clear example of how far tattooing as an artform has come in modern days.  The vibrancy of the piece, the level of detail, and the amazing use of layered and blended colors and negative space to define the tattoo makes this piece stand out for sure.

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It’s no secret that the North American P-51 Mustang is one of the most popular aircraft found in aviation-related tattoos today.  We have featured more than a fair share of the famous fighter here at Tattoos In Flight and have actually created a sub-category just for the P-51 Mustang.  Despite the fact that P-51 tattoos seem to be as “common as chips”, we are still proud to feature spectacular tattoos that take the P-51 “above and beyond” the norm.  Such is the case of our feature today: a fantastic montage of P-51 Mustangs in a colorful leg sleeve (or sock?) created by British tattoo artist Oliver Jerrold of Hope and Glory Tattoo.

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Our aviation tattoo for today on Tattoos In Flight features two of the most famous foes of the air war over Europe in World War II — the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber that was made famous for its use in the daylight strategic bombing campaigns and its aggressor the famous fighter of the German Luftwaffe, the Messerschmitt Bf-109.  Brazilian tattoo artist Marcelo Marzari created the colorful upper arm half sleeve tattoo.

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Hello Tattoos In Flight fans!  I know we haven’t updated to the new site look yet – unfortunately the new design was presenting some problems and we are still trying to resolve those issues.  In the meanwhile, we’d like to post this fantastic full sleeve tattoo of World War II vintage U.S. Naval Aviation aircraft by the ultra-talented tattoo artist Matt Geiogamah from Mesa, AZ in commemoration of the Centennial of Naval Aviation… a year-long celebration being seen at airshows across America!  Click on the image or this link to read the rest and to see a larger image.

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Even though the end of the Vietnam War was nearly four decades ago, when many people think of the war, one of the first images that comes to mind is that of the Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopter, more commonly known as the “Huey”. Its widespread use throughout the war by every branch of the U.S. military solidified it as a symbol of military service in Vietnam and as a result, many tributes for Vietnam Veterans feature the Huey… including the colorful half sleeve tattoo we feature today.

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