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. 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

Famous Foes Two foes from World War II, facing off in the air: This tattoo depicts the B-17 Flying Fortress, an American bomber, atop Germany's Messerschmitt Bf 109. The B-17, of course, was a tough and rugged bomb-dropper. The Bf 109, first flown in 1935, and arguably the deadliest aircraft to take flight during World War II, was no doubt the B-17's most formidable foe. Artist: Marcelo Marzari

F4U Corsair A powerful engine and savvy aerodynamics made the Vought F4U Corsair one of the fastest fighters in the U.S. military's arsenal during World War II. The slick-looking Corsair was even the first U.S. fighter craft to exceed 400 mph in the air. No wonder chicks love it. Artist: Cecil Porter

AH-64 Apache Oh, hell yes. The AH-64 Apache, the Army's favorite attack helicopter, makes for one lethal tat. The tattoo wearer got the ink to commemorate his time in the Army. An homage whose features include 70-mm rockets and laser-guided Hellfire missiles? Not too shabby a tribute. Artist: Jason Jones

The A-4 Skyhawk The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk debuted in 1954, but the aircraft still serves in some militaries around the world. Notorious for its relative light weight and airborne agility, the turbojet -- nicknamed "Scooter" -- is illustrated here in some colorful, markedly realistic detail. Artist: Jesse Rix/Secret Lake Tattoo

B-17 Flying Fortress What's manlier than chest hair? An enormous tattoo that depicts one of the military's most bad-ass bombers, running across your torso. This dude obviously got that memo, and he's got the B-17 Flying Fortress -- one of the Air Force's go-to bombers during World War II -- splayed across his body. The chest hair probably withered right off. Artist: Hayley Lakeman/Fu's Custom Tattoos

The P-51 Mustang According to Keough, the P-51 Mustang, depicted above, is the most frequent aircraft tattoo he comes across. He credits the popularity to the P-51's iconic status after service in World War II: The fighter-bomber is estimated to have taken down nearly 5,000 enemy aircraft. This tattoo, inked by an aviation student who just happened to be a tattoo artist, offers a damn nice illustration of the plane ... and a more reasonably priced way to celebrate the icon of aviation: Buying a P-51 today will run you upward of $1 million. Artist: Konstantin Nossatchev

The F-14 Tomcat Even if you're not an aviation geek, you've still gotta recognize this one: The F-14 Tomcat makes frequent appearances in, of course, the one and only Top Gun. The aircraft was officially retired in 2006, so this tattoo serves as a fitting, permanent tribute to Maverick's choice vessel. Artist: Shotsie German

B-17 Babe The B-17 Flying Fortress, a heavy bomber developed in the 1930s, has attained near-mythical proportions. Resilient and deadly, the planes dropped more bombs during World War II than any other American aircraft. Just thinking about the hours it'd take to get this massive, colorful tattoo of the B-17 is enough to instill some serious fear. Resilient? This chick sure as hell must be. Artist: Mike Devries/Mike Devries Tattoos

SR-71 Blackbird The SR-71 Blackbird is one of the most famous aircraft to emerge from Lockheed Martin's sleuth-aircraft branch, formally titled Advanced Development Programs (ADP) but better known as "Skunk Works." This forearm tat offers an aerial view of the "Lady in Black" and her sleek shape, which was designed to dash through the air at supersonic speeds. Artist: Brendan Mudd/Inkfish Studios

P-51 Mustang The P-51 Mustang was fondly nicknamed "The Cadillac of the Skies." So it only makes sense that a tat of the aircraft be given plenty of room to show off. An entire back serves as a fantastic canvas for this tattoo, which is a tribute to the wearer's grandfather, who flew a P-51 Mustang during World War II. Artist: C.W./Royal Street Tattoo

Helicopters At War Yet another portrait of the revolutionary UH-1 Huey. This time around, a swarm of the 'copters can be seen coming to the rescue of soldiers in rugged jungle. As a side note, we here at Danger Room are so obsessed with this tattoo, you just might see something similar adorning this reporter's torso in the near future. Artist: Cody Meyer/Aces High Tattoo Shop

F8F Bearcat We're not sure whether the red stain seeping down this guy's shirt is blood or ink. Either way: Nice tat, dude. The Grunman F8F Bearcat, once used by as a fighter by American forces, still make it to the skies: They're popular in civilian air races. Artist: Mo Malone/Iron Age Studio

F-117 Nighthawk The ultimate in stealth aircraft, the F-117 Nighthawk debuted in 1981 -- but its existence remained a secret until 1988. The aircraft's sleek shape was meant to be nearly invisible to radar. Artist: Smallz/E.C. Tattoo

UH-1 Huey Her father's Vietnam service inspired this chick's tattoo. And what a tattoo it is. The first scene depicts the UH-1 Huey dropping troops into combat. The second illustrates the Huey performing an extraction of a downed soldier. She revealed the tat to her pops on Memorial Day of 2010. He, apparently, was not too pissed. Scotty Rich/Lady Luck Tattoo Gallery

A Salute to the Navy Tattooed in honor of the 100th anniversary of Naval aviation -- the Navy debuted its first aircraft in May of 1911 -- this full arm sleeve shows off several of the most renowned Naval planes from World War II. From the wrist up: The PBY-5 Catalina Patrol Bomber, the Avenger torpedo bomber, the F6F Hellcat, the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver dive bomber, and the SBD Dauntless dive bomber. Artist: Matt Geiogamah

P-40 Warhawk Pilots of the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk were notorious for for their ace flying abilities. The expression "Hold Your Ground," as they did during aerial combat against Japan in World War II, inspired this tattoo. Artist: Chris Stans/Kapala Tattoo