C-130 News

F-16 Timeline

F-16 Events from 1980





15 Jan 1980 RNoAF accepts first F-16.
17 Jan 1980 RDAF accepts first F-16.
8 Mar 1980 The Netherlands order an additional 111 F-16s.
16 May 1980 First production F-16A block 10 (#79-0289) is delivered to the USAF.
25 Jun 1980 Egypt orders 42 F-16s (Peace Vector I) becoming the 7th customer.
21 Jul 1980 The official naming ceremony for the F-16 was held at Hill AFB in Utah. At the ceremony F-16A #79-0290 sported a special logo painted by local (Salt Lake City, Utah) artists Matt and Mark Waki.
25 Oct 1980 F-16 officially attains initial operational capability - combat ready status - with the U.S. Air Force.
27 Oct 1980 The F-16 becomes nuclear certified.
29 Oct 1980 Maiden flight of the F-16/79 (#50752) intermediate fighter prototype, with James McKinney at the controls. (Read more...)
13 Nov 1980 First production F-16B block 10 (#79-0420) is delivered to the USAF.
17 Dec 1980 First flight of the F-16/101 development aircraft.