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.
627 Articles

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the Prototype Ilyushin Il-102

Explore the history of the Ilyushin Il-102, the Soviet armored ground-attack aircraft that first flew…

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the Short S.8/8 Rangoon

Learn about the Short S.8/8 Rangoon, the RAF's three-engine flying boat that first flew on…

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the Piaggio P.180 Avanti

Discover the Piaggio P.180 Avanti, the innovative Italian turboprop that first flew on September 23,…

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the Westland Widgeon

Learn about the Westland Widgeon, the lightweight British monoplane that first flew in 1924. Designed…

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar

Discover the Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar, which first flew on September 21, 1939. Learn how…

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the FFVS J 22

On September 20, 1942, the FFVS J 22 made its first flight. Discover how Sweden…

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of a Diesel Powered Aircraft

On September 19, 1928, a modified Stinson Detroiter became the first heavier-than-air aircraft to fly…

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the Curtiss XP-60

On September 18, 1941, the Curtiss XP-60 made its first flight. Learn how this ambitious…

Today In Aviation History: First Operational Sortie by a de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito

On September 17, 1941, the de Havilland Mosquito flew its first operational sortie, proving the…

Today In Aviation History: First Flight of the AIDC AT-3 Zìqiáng

Discover the AIDC AT-3 "Tzu Chung," Taiwan's indigenous advanced jet trainer, which first flew on…