|
|
February
|
|
Feb 1978
|
|
First European F-16 assembly line opens at SONACA/SABCA in Belgium.
|
April
|
|
Apr 1978
|
|
Second European assembly line opens at Fokker-VFW in the Netherlands.
|
July
|
|
21 Jul 1978
|
|
Assemblers attach first major European-produced F-16 components (wings from Belgium) to a USAF F-16.
|
August
|
|
10 Aug 1978
|
|
F-16 becomes first single-seat fighter to achieve accurate, unassisted delivery of laser-guided weapons.
|
|
16 Aug 1978
|
|
Israel orders 75 F-16s (Peace Marbel I) becoming the 6th customer.
|
|
18 Aug 1978
|
|
First production F-16A block 1 (#78-0001) is delivered to the USAF.
|
September
|
|
6 Sep 1978
|
|
First production F-16 arrives at Edwards AFB, following a two-hour flight from the factory in Fort Worth.
|
October
|
|
17 Oct 1978
|
|
First production F-16B block 1 (#78-0077) is delivered to the USAF.
|
December
|
|
11 Dec 1978
|
|
First flight of the first Belgian built F-16 (#FB-01) with SABCA test pilot Serge Martin at the controls and GD test pilot Neil Anderson riding in the backseat.
|
|
