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.
11 Articles

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the Bell P-63 Kingcobra

The Bell P-63 Kingcobra first flew on December 7, 1942. An improved successor to the…

Austin Hancock

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the Lockheed L-188 Electra

The Lockheed L-188 Electra made its first flight on December 6, 1957, becoming America’s first…

Austin Hancock

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the Kawanishi E15K Shiun

The Kawanishi E15K Shiun made its first flight on December 5, 1941. Designed as a…

Austin Hancock

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the Grumman S-2 Tracker

The Grumman S-2 Tracker made its first flight on December 4, 1952, becoming the U.S.…

Austin Hancock

Today In Aviation History: First Jet Takeoff and Landing on Aircraft Carrier

On December 3, 1945, Lieutenant-Commander Eric Melrose Brown made aviation history by launching and landing…

Austin Hancock

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the Beechcraft T-34 Mentor

The Beechcraft T-34 Mentor made its first flight on December 2, 1948. Developed from the…

Austin Hancock

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the Heinkel He 70

The Heinkel He 70 made its first flight on December 1, 1932. Originally built as…

Austin Hancock

Today In Aviation History: First Airmail Flown by Jet Aircraft

On November 30, 1941, Italy’s Caproni Campini N.1 made history by flying the world’s first…

Austin Hancock

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the Junkers Ju 288

The Junkers Ju 288 made its first flight on November 29, 1940, emerging as the…

Austin Hancock

Today In Aviation History: First flight of the Fairey Flycatcher

The Fairey Flycatcher first flew on November 28, 1922, becoming one of the earliest fighters…

Austin Hancock