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 โ€œStickyโ€ Pennington.
627 Articles

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 Forceโ€™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 โ€œHuey,โ€ 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 Navyโ€™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 flightโ€”a compact, agile โ€œflying…

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…

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Boeing XB-15

On October 15, 1937, Boeingโ€™s XB-15 made its first flight. This massive long-range bomber prototype…

Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk

On October 14, 1938, the Curtiss P-40 made its first flight. Known as the Warhawk,…