- 5 - the agent's arguments and affirmed GENDYN's permission to use CCM. GENDYN manufactured the F-16, a tactical military aircraft. Originally designed as a "dog fighter", the F-16 evolved into a multirole aircraft, capable of performing air-to-air combat, air defense, and air-to-ground missions in all types of conditions. In January 1972, the Air Force issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the development of a prototype aircraft designated the "Light Weight Fighter". In April 1972, the Air Force selected two aerospace companies, Northrop Corp. and GENDYN, to develop competing prototypes. Following a "fly off" of the two prototypes, on January 13, 1975, the Air Force awarded GENDYN contract numbered F33657-75-C-0310 (0310 contract) for the full- scale development of what ultimately became the F-16. The 0310 contract required GENDYN to complete development of the F-16 and to build several developmental aircraft, which differed considerably from the prototype. The 0310 contract also granted the Air Force options to procure production F-16's (as opposed to the developmental versions) for the program years 1977, 1978, and 1979, as well as a separate option to purchase 348 F-16's for foreign Governments. The first developmental aircraft flew in December 1976, and the first production version flew and was delivered during 1978. From the time the Air Force selected GENDYN through 1981, the Air Force purchased more than 650 F-16's.Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011