Today in History

[air marshal]

October 22, 1983
F-16 units place 1st, 2nd and 4th in USAF-wide Gunsmoke '83 bombing and strafing competition.

 

[air marshal]

October 23, 1989
F-16 teams sweep Gunsmoke '89 bombing and munitions competition.

 

[air marshal]

October 24, 1981
First production F-16A block 15 (#80-0542) is delivered to the USAF.

October 24, 2000
Maiden flight of the F-16 power-by-wire technology demonstrator,it the first aircraft to fly with all-electric flight-control actuation and no mechanical backup.

 

[air marshal]

October 25, 1980
F-16 officially attains initial operational capability - combat ready status - with the U.S. Air Force.

October 25, 1987
USAF Thunderbirds completed Pacific tour to 14 cities in 10 countries: first show in People's Republic of China, first Pacific tour in F-16, first Pacific tour since 1959.

 

[air marshal]

October 26, 1977
Department of Defense endorses F-16 full-scale production.

 

[air marshal]

October 27, 1976
Iran orders 160 F-16s and takes an option on 140 more (Peace Zebra). The order was cancelled in 1979 with the fall of the Shah.

 

[air marshal]

October 28, 1983
Second LANTIRN-equipped F-16 made its first test flight, with both the navigating and targeting pods mounted.

 

[air marshal]

October 29, 1980
Maiden flight of the F-16/79 (#50752) intermediate fighter prototype, with James McKinney at the controls.

October 29, 1982
Maiden flight of F-16XL ship no. 2 with two-place cockpit and GE F101 engine, piloted by Alex Wolf and Jim McKinney.

October 29, 1992
First production F-16C block 52 (#90-0809) is delivered to the USAF.

October 29, 1997
Singapore orders 12 F-16s (Peace Carvin III).

 

[air marshal]

October 30, 1991
AFTI/F-16 completes its 500th flight.

 

[air marshal]

October 31, 1991
First production F-16C block 50 (#90-0801) is delivered to the USAF at Fort Worth, where it will remain until early 1992 for tasks related to fleet introduction.

 

[air marshal]

November 3, 1991
Congress approves 1992 defense budget providing for procurement of 48 USAF F-16s in FY 92, with advance funding for 24 in FY 93.

November 3, 1998
The US ANG 119th FW sets a safety record by flying over 40,000 accident-free hours in the F-16, over a nine-year period.

 

[air marshal]

November 4, 1997
The AFTI/F-16 program ends at Dryden research center, after 15 years and over 700 research flights.

 

[air marshal]

November 5, 1984
Greece orders 40 F-16s (Peace Xenia I) becoming the 12th customer.

November 5, 1996
F-16 delivers first guided JDAM bomb.

 

[air marshal]

November 7, 1982
Transition from T-38A to F-16A by USAF Thunderbirds is completed.

 

[air marshal]

November 8, 1977
F-16 prototype launches all-weather AIM-7F Sparrow missiles.

November 8, 1982
The second F-16XL (#75-0747 (double seat)), arrives at Edwards AFB.

November 8, 1999
EAF accepts first F-16 from Peace Vector V order.