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.

Click here or the image above to read more & view a larger image »

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.

Click here or the image above to read more & view a larger image »

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.

Click on the image at the left or visit this link for a larger image and to read the rest of the story. Click here or the image above to read more & view a larger image »

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.

Click here or the image above to read more & view a larger image »

Normally I don’t like to post two tattoos of the same type of aircraft one right after the other, but since the P-51 Mustang WWII fighter is so popular as a tattoo and technique of this specific tattoo is so unique, I couldn’t help myself!

(click the image above for the full post and larger photos)

The P-51 that is the subject of this tattoo is the North American P-51D Mustang “Double Trouble Two” now owned and operated by the Fighter Factory of Suffolk, VA (and seen at many airshows around the East Coast).  Though the art is not as detailed as the real thing, the surreal… almost airbrushed look of this tattoo is quite interesting.  Unlike many tattoos, this one uses little outline and is defined almost entirely by subtle color work where the needle grouping almost acts more like a paintbrush than a pen.

The artist who accomplished this beautiful piece of aviation art skillfully applied to the curving canvas of an upper hip, lower right rib area is Kris Grimmer who performs his craft from Empire Tattoo of Clementon, NJ

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

Click here or the image above to read more & view a larger image »

One of the things that makes tattoos featuring aircraft so challenging is the amount of detail that many aircraft require to look accurate.  As a result, airplane tattoos generally work better when they cover a larger part of the body rather than small areas… backs and torsos seem to work especially well.  The tattoo we are proud to feature today of a North American P-51 Mustang fighter from World War II is a perfect example of the artist and wearer giving a tattoo plenty of room to look its best!

(click the image above for the full post and larger photos)

The P-51 is considered by many enthusiasts to be the “Cadillac of the Skies” as they point out it’s aggressive appearance and powerful performance figures combined with its outstanding WWII record and active usage for years after the war.  Because of this, the P-51 has remained one of the most popular warbird aircraft flown by private collectors and museums today.  Over 120 P-51 Mustangs are maintained in flying condition today out of over 16,000 that were built – pretty impressive considering the fact that the design is over six decades old.  This popularity makes the P-51 one of the most recognizable aircraft of all time… and has made it a very popular tattoo subject as well.

The gentleman who sent us his P-51 Mustang backpiece was excited to share this fantastic piece of personal art with us and he certainly has a great reason to be excited!  The proportions of the P-51 are right on the money!  He got the tattoo in honor of his grandfather who flew as a crewmember aboard a B-29 Superfortress during the war.  The “S2” on the nose of the P-51 symbolizes both he and his wife as their initials both begin with the letter “S.”

The tattoo was created by tattoo artist C.W. who can be found at Royal Street Tattoo located in Mobile, AL.

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

Click here or the image above to read more & view a larger image »

As a follow-up to yesterday’s post that featured the poem of RCAF pilot John Gillespie Magee, today we feature a beautiful tattoo of the aircraft that inspired that poem, the Supermarine Spitfire.

(click the image for the full post & a larger photo)

The Spitfire was one of the most famous fighter aircraft of World War II.  Known for it’s nimble maneuverability, the Spitfire was a formidable defender as it went head-to-head against Messerschmitt Bf-109 fighters of the German Luftwaffe over the skies of England during the Battle of Britain in the Summer of 1940.  The Spitfire operated through the end of WWII and was the only Allied fighter that was produced continually from before the war through the end of the war.  In fact, from 1938 through 1948, over 20,351 Spitfires were produced, making it one of the top 10 most produced aircraft in history.

Over 44 Spitfires remain in flying condition, many being found in England or other British Commonwealth countries in private ownership.  Many can be found flying during the annual Flying Legends Air Show at IWM Duxford in Cambridgeshire England each summer, which is sponsored in part by the Fighter Collection, operators of many WWII fighter aircraft based at Duxford.

Its history combined with its performance and refined styling has made it a highly cherished collectors item for aviators worldwide. Because of that demand, restored and flying Spitfires have sold for over $2 Million dollars in recent years.

So, if you can’t afford to buy your own Spitfire, you can at least have a permanent homage to the famous fighter tattooed on you!  This colorful calf tattoo of a pair of Spitfires in flight over a field of poppies was created by tattoo artist Derek Dufresne of Fleshworks Tattoos in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

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

Click here or the image above to read more & view a larger image »

I will admit that when I first saw this tattoo, I thought the aircraft pictured was a North American AT-6 Texan… one of the more common trainers of WWII vintage.  However, as I reviewed it this past week as I was preparing posts, I realized it was far more rare than an AT-6… this tattoo features the obscure Curtiss-Wright CW-22 Falcon.  Certainly one of the more unique aircraft we have featured here.

(click the image for the full post & a larger photo)

There is a reason why few people know of the CW-22 – only around 600 were built from 1940 onward, originating from Curtiss-Wright’s St. Louis factory.  Originally designed from the single-seat CW-21, the –22 was a two seat, light sport or training aircraft that found it’s way into becoming a combat trainer and light attack airplane.

The Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force was the main customer of the CW-22 as 36 were exported to support their defense of the East Indies.  However, due to Japanese advancement, the exported CW-22’s were delivered to the Dutch in Australia. The CW-22B was later delivered to Turkish forces and some replaced original –22’s with the Netherlands and some even made their way to South America flying with Peru, Bolivia and Uruguay.

The US Navy bought 455 unarmed aircraft and designated them the SNC-1 Falcon and operated them as trainer aircraft.  One SNC-1 hangs in the hall of the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL… one of four still in existence.

This colorful tattoo of the CW-22 was created by tattoo artist Brian Mcdermott at Electra Art Tattoo in Corpus Christi, TX.

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

Click here or the image above to read more & view a larger image »