Fighter Jet News

F-16 Timeline

F-16 Events from 1989





Feb 1989 First F-16 Air Defense Fighter retrofit modification is completed.
3 Feb 1989 The first F-16 Aggressor is delivered in Mig-29 Fulcrum paint scheme.
19 Feb 1989 The first F-16C block 40 is deployed to Luke AFB.
23 Feb 1989 An F-16B ADF test aircraft from the F-16 CTF successfully launches an AIM-7 Sparrow missile, destroying a target drone off the California coast.
23 Feb 1989 First production F-16D block 40 (#87-0391) is delivered to the USAF.
12 Mar 1989 F-16XL no. 1 is returned to flight status and delivered to NASA.
28 Apr 1989 First flight of an F-16 powered by the new Pratt and Whitney F100-PW-229 engine.
30 Apr 1989 First production F-16C block 42 (#87-0356) is delivered to the USAF.
2 May 1989 An AIM-7 Sparrow missile is launched for the first time from an F-16C following successful F-16A testing.
9 Jun 1989 F-16 team wins TAC's Long Rifle V bombing competition.
10 Jun 1989 Multiyear III long-lead funding is authorized for 600 USAF aircraft.
11 Jun 1989 First dedicated close air support (CAS) unit is activated at Syracuse, New York.
13 Jun 1989 First production F-16D block 42 (#87-0394) is delivered to the USAF.
30 Jun 1989 428th Tactical Fighter Squadron disbands at Nellis AFB, Nevada.
21 Jul 1989 RNoAF accepts first F-16 of follow-on order.
5 Sep 1989 Pakistan orders 60 F-16s (Peace Gate IV).
8 Sep 1989 TNI-AU accepts first F-16 from Peace Bima-Sena order.
5 Oct 1989 F-16 team wins USAFE Excalibur VI bombing competition.
23 Oct 1989 F-16 teams sweep Gunsmoke '89 bombing and munitions competition.
7 Dec 1989 2,500th worldwide F-16 is delivered.
14 Dec 1989 Thailand orders 6 F-16s (Peace Naresuan II).