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

Today In Aviation History: Y1B-17 Officially Enters Service with 2nd Bomb Group

On March 4, 1937, the Boeing Y1B-17 entered service with the 2nd Bomb Group, marking…

Austin Hancock

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the Bell HSL

On March 3, 1953, the Bell HSL anti-submarine helicopter made its first flight, marking an…

Austin Hancock

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the Dassault Super Mystère

The Dassault Super Mystère first flew on March 2, 1955, becoming Western Europe’s first mass-produced…

Austin Hancock

Today In Aviation History: Berliner-Joyce P-16 Enters Service with USAAC

On March 1, 1932, the Berliner-Joyce P-16 entered service with the USAAC, marking the debut…

Austin Hancock

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the Dassault M.D.450 Ouragan

On February 28, 1949, the Dassault M.D.450 Ouragan completed its first flight, marking France’s return…

Austin Hancock

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the Blackburn Firebrand

On February 27, 1942, the Blackburn Firebrand completed its first flight, introducing a Royal Navy…

Austin Hancock

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the Armstrong Whitworth A.W.19

On February 26, 1934, the Armstrong Whitworth A.W.19 completed its first flight, marking the debut…

Austin Hancock

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the Transall C-160

Learn about the Transall C-160, the Franco-German military transport that first flew in 1963 and…

Austin Hancock

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the Douglas Cloudster

Discover the story of the Douglas Cloudster, the pioneering 1921 biplane built for a nonstop…

Austin Hancock

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the CAC CA-25 Winjeel

Learn about the CAC CA-25 Winjeel, Australia’s versatile training aircraft that first flew in 1955…

Austin Hancock