Austin Hancock

Commercial Pilot, CFI, and Museum Entrepreneur, with a subject focus on WWII Aviation. I am dedicated to building flight experience so I can fly WWII Fighters, such as the P-51 Mustang, for museums and airshows, and in the USAF Heritage Flight. I lead and run the Pennington Flight Memorial, to honor local MIA Tuskegee Airman F/O Leland “Sticky” Pennington.
384 Articles

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Short Sunderland

On October 16, 1937, the Short Sunderland flying boat made its first flight. This long-range…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Boeing XB-15

On October 15, 1937, Boeing’s XB-15 made its first flight. This massive long-range bomber prototype…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk

On October 14, 1938, the Curtiss P-40 made its first flight. Known as the Warhawk,…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Sikorsky S-72

On October 12, 1976, the experimental Sikorsky S-72 made its first flight. Built for NASA…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: Apollo 7 Launches NASA’s First Crewed Apollo Mission

On October 10, 1968, NASA launched Apollo 7, the first successful crewed mission of the…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Lockheed L-1649 Starliner

On October 10, 1956, the Lockheed L-1649 Starliner made its first flight. The final model…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: Final Flight of the SR-71 Blackbird

Learn about the final flight of the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird on October 9, 1999, and…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Airship Flight Powered by Electricity

Today in aviation history: On October 8, 1883, the Tissandier brothers flew the first electric-powered…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Stipa-Caproni

Today in aviation history: On October 7, 1932, the Stipa-Caproni made its first flight, pioneering…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum

Today in aviation history: On October 6, 1975, the MiG-29 Fulcrum made its first flight.…

Austin Hancock