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 Douglas DC-1

On July 1, 1933, the Douglas DC-1 made its first flight, launching the iconic DC…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Rutan Defiant

Discover the story behind the Rutan Defiant, Burt Rutan’s unique push-pull twin-engine aircraft that first…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Saab 105

Learn about the Saab 105, the Swedish twin-jet trainer that first flew on June 29,…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: Formation of Britain’s Women’s Auxiliary Air Force

Discover the history of Britain’s Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, established on June 28, 1939, and…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Air-to-Air Victory of the Korean War

Discover the story of the first air-to-air victory of the Korean War on June 27,…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Grumman F6F Hellcat

Explore the history of the Grumman F6F Hellcat, the U.S. Navy’s legendary WWII carrier fighter…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Ryan FR-1 Fireball

Explore the history of the Ryan FR-1 Fireball, the U.S. Navy’s first hybrid fighter aircraft,…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Sukhoi Su-9

Discover the history of the Sukhoi Su-9 "Fishpot," the Soviet Union’s high-speed Cold War interceptor…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Martin JRM Mars

Discover the story of the Martin JRM Mars, the largest Allied flying boat of WWII,…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Airmail Flown by Jet

On June 22, 1946, the first jet-powered airmail flight took off from Schenectady, NY, marking…

Austin Hancock