Fighter Jet News

F-16 Timeline

F-16 Events from 1981





16 Jan 1981 Belgian Air Force's 349 squadron becomes the first F-16 fighter squadron to qualify for North Atlantic Treaty Organization service in Europe.
16 Jan 1981 The F-16/79 intermediate fighter completes development flight test program.
11 Feb 1981 F-16 launches first Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM).
17 Feb 1981 First Fighting Falcon is refuelled in the air by a KC-10 tanker
19 Mar 1981 Twelve 'Fighting Falcons' from 4 TFS return to Hill AFB, Utah, from Flesland AFB, Norway after completing the USAF's first full overseas operational F-16 deployment.
28 Apr 1981 Israeli F-16s scored the first air-to-air kill by shooting down two Syrian Mi-8 'Hip' helicopters.
6 May 1981 Belgian's 349 squadron is declared fully operational as first European F-16 squadron.
29 May 1981 USAF inaugurates first overseas F-16 base at Kunsan, Korea, with the 8th FW converting from the F-4 to the F-16A/B.
7 Jun 1981 First F-16 combat use, in Israel's raid on a Iraqi nuclear reactor (Osirak).
1981 F-16s win Royal Air Force precision bombing competition at Lossiemouth, Scotland, scoring 7,831 of a possible 8,000 points.
1981 Egypt orders 40 F-16s (Peace Vector II).
30 Jul 1981 First production F-16A block 15 (#80-0660) is delivered to the IDFAF.
6 Aug 1981 An F-16 destroys a F-102 target drone during first guided launch of an all-weather AMRAAM radar-guided missile.
24 Oct 1981 First production F-16A block 15 (#80-0542) is delivered to the USAF.
16 Dec 1981 South Korea orders 40 F-16s (Peace Bridge I) becoming the 8th customer.
23 Dec 1981 Pakistan orders 6 F-16s (Peace Gate I) becoming the 9th customer.
23 Dec 1981 Pakistan orders 34 F-16s (Peace Gate II).
30 Dec 1981 USAF inaugurates first European F-16 base at Hahn, Germany, with the 50th TFW converting from the F-4 to the F-16A/B.
31 Dec 1981 First production F-16B block 15 (#80-0635) is delivered to the USAF.