Tattoos in Flight is an ongoing gallery of flight and aviation-related tattoos collected from around the web — displaying the passion for flight that the wearers exhibit. We feature the the worlds most skilled artists who excel in the craft and subject matter, allowing aviation enthusiasts to make more informed decisions in choosing an artist.

Justice by the Jug: P-47 Thunderbolt Tattoo

Posted by Icarus

Republic P-47 Thunderbolt Jug Fighter WWII Aircraft Airplane Escort Pilot Aviator Aviation World War II Tattoos In Flight Ian Mckown Bound By Design Denver ColoradoThe Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, affectionately known as the “Jug” by pilots and crews for its portly shape and as an abbreviation for “juggernaut” speaking to its ruggedness in battle, was the largest single engine fighter of WWII.  The P-47 was one of the first high-altitude escort fighters that could accompany bomber formations into enemy territory in the European theater from bases in England to help protect the bombers from enemy fighters.  The P-47 had a reputation as a powerful fighter, though it’s maneuverability wasn’t as great as later fighters such as the P-51 — but it excelled as a ground attack fighter and helped support allied troops in the invasions of France in 1944.

Ian Mckown of Bound by Design in Denver, CO tattooed the powerful P-47 as a memorial of a loved one on the wearer and colorfully illustrated it’s reputation as a tough fighter in the scene depicted.

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

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A Devoted Phan: F-4 Phantom II Tattoo

Posted by Icarus

McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II Vietnam Jet Fighter Turbojet Pilot RIO Flying Airplane Tattoos In Flight Aloha Tattoo Studio West Chester OhioSwitching it up a little today — enough with the propeller and piston planes — time for some kerosene!  And to honor that fuel we call Jet-A, here we feature one of the most efficient machines to turn kerosene into noise, the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II.  Used extensively in the Vietnam War and through the 1980’s, the F-4 Phantom remains one of the icons of air power bridging the gap between the first generation jets and the modern jets of today.

This tattoo was done by Jason at Aloha Tattoo Studio in West Chester, OH.

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

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Everywhere We Look, P-40 Tattoos!

Posted by Icarus

Curtiss P-40 Warhawk Fighter WWII Airplane Pilot Flying Tiger AVG Plane Ace Tattoos In Flight Sean Beck Mom's TattoosOver the past few weeks, we have seen an upswing in the number of tattoos featuring the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk.  It’s obvious that the plane made famous by the Flying Tigers is a popular tattoo subject.

This tattoo is certainly no exception!  One of the first things we noticed as how well proportioned the tattoo is, especially considering the aggressive angle of the image.  Additionally, we also noticed how straight the wings were — not easy since the surface of the calf is so curved.

This tattoo was created by Sean Beck, an artist at Mom’s Tattoos in Wilmington, NC.

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