Austin Hancock

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.
579 Articles

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Saab 35 Draken

Discover the history of the Saab 35 Draken, which first flew on October 25, 1955.…

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Convair F-102 Delta Dagger

Learn about the first flight of the Convair F-102 Delta Dagger on October 24, 1953.…

Today in Aviation History: Francesco Agello Sets New Airspeed Record Flying the Macchi M.C.72

Learn how Francesco Agello broke the world airspeed record on October 21, 1934, flying the…

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Republic F-105 Thunderchief

Explore the history of the Republic F-105 Thunderchief, the U.S. Air Force’s supersonic fighter-bomber that…

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Northrop YB-49

Learn about the Northrop YB-49, the jet-powered flying-wing bomber that first flew on October 21,…

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Bell UH-1 Iroquois

Discover the history of the Bell UH-1 Iroquois, or “Huey,” which first flew on October…

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Mitsubishi 3MT5

Discover the story of the Mitsubishi 3MT5, the Imperial Japanese Navy’s experimental twin-engine bomber that…

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Grumman F2F

On this day in 1933, the Grumman F2F made its first flight—a compact, agile “flying…

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Sikorsky YUH-60A

On October 17, 1974, the Sikorsky YUH-60A made its first flight, marking the beginning of…

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…