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Today in History: F-16 Fighting Falcon Takes Its First Flight

2/2/2026

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Summary

Story summary

On February 2, 1976, the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon made its inaugural flight. This American single-engine supersonic multirole fighter aircraft has since evolved into the most widely used fixed-wing military aircraft, with over 4,600 units built. As of 2025, 2,084 F-16s remain operational worldwide.

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Story summary

On February 2, 1976, the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon made its inaugural flight. This American single-engine supersonic multirole fighter aircraft has since evolved into the most widely used fixed-wing military aircraft, with over 4,600 units built. As of 2025, 2,084 F-16s remain operational worldwide.