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 Airmail Flown by Jet

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

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Supermarine Walrus

Discover the story of the Supermarine Walrus, the pioneering British amphibious aircraft that first flew…

Austin Hancock

2025 Geneseo Airshow: Famous Battles of the Pacific, ‘Greatest Show on Turf’ to Honor VJ Day

The 2025 Geneseo Airshow will commemorate the 80th anniversary of VJ Day with a powerful…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Yakovlev Yak-25

Explore the history of the Yakovlev Yak-25, a Cold War-era Soviet interceptor that first flew…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: Southwest Airlines Begins Operations

Discover how Southwest Airlines began operations on June 18, 1971, grew from a Texas-only carrier…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Official Flight of the Tupolev Tu-104

Marking 70 years since its first flight, the Tupolev Tu-104 was the Soviet Union’s pioneering…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Official Flight of the Lockheed XFV

Discover the story behind the Lockheed XFV, a 1950s experimental tail-sitting VTOL fighter that made…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Westland Lysander

n June 15, 1936, the Westland Lysander made its first flight. Designed for army co-operation,…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Hawker Hotspur

On June 14, 1938, the Hawker Hotspur took flight for the first time. Designed as…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: Boeing 767 Sets Nonstop Commercial Flight Record

On June 13, 1990, a Boeing 767-200ER set a nonstop commercial flight distance record, flying…

Austin Hancock