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helicopter-homage
As any self-respecting ink aficionado knows, every tattoo tells a story. And based on the incredible array of tattoos on display at Tattoos In Flight, a website dedicated to aviation tats, plenty of those stories have their origins in the air.
Ryan Keough, the site's founder, is both a professional pilot and an avid tattoo wearer. In fact, it was his own growing collection of aviation body art -- Keough's entire back
is an homage to the sky, from a portrait of Icarus to soaring birds to "The Spirit of Propulsion" surrounded by clouds -- that inspired him to start an aviation tattoo hub online. When he launched the site in 2008, Keough didn't think he'd get many contributions, largely because the aviation community he knew was “very conservative.” But Keough was wrong. “I think that aviation is more than just a career or hobby for people… it becomes a lifestyle that encompasses everything within a person’s life,” he tells Danger Room. “As a result, the imagery of aviation is a natural inspiration for enthusiasts.” Since launching the website in 2008, Keough has collected hundreds of aviation tattoos, many of them military in theme. And from World War II bombers to ultra-sleek reconnaissance jets, Danger Room has dug through the archives of Tattoos in Flight to offer up the best, boldest and most bad-ass military aircraft tats.
/Avalon Tattoo
is an homage to the sky, from a portrait of Icarus to soaring birds to "The Spirit of Propulsion" surrounded by clouds -- that inspired him to start an aviation tattoo hub online. When he launched the site in 2008, Keough didn't think he'd get many contributions, largely because the aviation community he knew was “very conservative.” But Keough was wrong. “I think that aviation is more than just a career or hobby for people… it becomes a lifestyle that encompasses everything within a person’s life,” he tells Danger Room. “As a result, the imagery of aviation is a natural inspiration for enthusiasts.” Since launching the website in 2008, Keough has collected hundreds of aviation tattoos, many of them military in theme. And from World War II bombers to ultra-sleek reconnaissance jets, Danger Room has dug through the archives of Tattoos in Flight to offer up the best, boldest and most bad-ass military aircraft tats.
Helicopter Homage
The UH-1 Iroqois, better known as “The Huey,” played a vital role during the Vietnam War, when 7,000 of the helicopters saw service. Fifty years later, the helicopters are still used by American personnel in Afghanistan. This epic tat portrays four of The Hueys, flying in formation, as they did during Vietnam to get troops in and out of dense jungle. Above the helicopters is a quote from Leonardo da Vinci: “Once having tasted flight, you will walk this earth with your eyes turned skyward. For there you have been, and there you long to return.” Artist: Chris Walkin/Avalon Tattoo
