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

Gordon H. Root, a Mustang Pilot Not To Be Forgotten: Honoring a Rochester, NY P-51 Mustang Pilot Lost Too Soon

2nd Lt. Gordon H. Root of Victor, New York, never saw combat overseas—but his sacrifice…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Supermarine S.5 Racer

On June 7, 1927, the Supermarine S.5 made its first flight. Designed by Reginald Mitchell…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Lockheed XP-58 Chain Lightning

On June 6, 1944, the Lockheed XP-58 Chain Lightning made its first flight. Designed as…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Combat Mission of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress

On June 5, 1944, the Boeing B-29 Superfortress flew its first combat mission, marking the…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: Construction Begins on OV-101 – Space Shuttle Enterprise

On June 4, 1974, NASA began construction of OV-101, later named Space Shuttle Enterprise. Though…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Lockheed XF-90

Discover the story of the Lockheed XF-90, a Cold War-era prototype fighter developed as a…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Black Pilot to Shoot Down a Luftwaffe Aircraft

On July 2, 1943, Tuskegee Airman Lt. Charles Hall became the first Black pilot to…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Boeing Model 15

On June 2, 1923, Boeing’s Model 15 fighter biplane made its first flight, ushering in…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190

Eighty-six years ago today, on June 1, 1939, the Focke-Wulf Fw 190—nicknamed the "Shrike"—took to…

Austin Hancock

Today in Aviation History: First Aircraft Flight Across the Pacific Ocean

On May 31, 1928, aviation pioneer Charles Kingsford Smith made history with the first aircraft…

Austin Hancock