One Hundred Years of Flight USAF Chronology ... - The Air University
One Hundred Years of Flight USAF Chronology ... - The Air University
One Hundred Years of Flight USAF Chronology ... - The Air University
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with a carbon dioxide laser, shot down a drone over White Sands Missile<br />
Range, New Mexico. Two years later, the ALL successfully shot down five<br />
Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, proving its utility as an antimissile system.<br />
June 7: Israeli F–16 and F–15 aircraft destroyed the Osirak nuclear reactor<br />
near Baghdad to prevent the Iraqis from acquiring material to manufacture<br />
a nuclear weapon.<br />
June 18: <strong>The</strong> F–117 Nighthawk, the world’s first stealth combat aircraft, flew<br />
for the first time. Hal Farley piloted the revolutionary aircraft, which<br />
presented very little radar image, at Tonopah Test Range, Nevada.<br />
<strong>The</strong> F–117A Nighthawk<br />
1981<br />
August 3: <strong>USAF</strong> air-traffic controllers began to man U.S. airport facilities,<br />
replacing striking federal civilian personnel. This action allowed commercial<br />
airlines to continue service despite the illegal strike.<br />
September 15: Strategic <strong>Air</strong> Command received its first TR–1A reconnaissance<br />
aircraft. Built by Lockheed-California, this improved and<br />
enlarged version <strong>of</strong> the U–2 reconnaissance aircraft could conduct allweather<br />
day-and-night missions at altitudes exceeding 70,000 feet.<br />
October 2: Reversing former president James E. “Jimmy” Carter’s decision<br />
to end the B–1 Lancer program, President Ronald W. Reagan<br />
announced that the <strong>Air</strong> Force would build and deploy 100 <strong>of</strong> these aircraft.<br />
President Reagan also announced that the M–X missile would be<br />
deployed initially in existing missile silos.<br />
October 14: Tactical <strong>Air</strong> Command deployed two E–3A Sentry airborne<br />
warning and control system aircraft to Egypt to help ensure calm after<br />
the assassination <strong>of</strong> Prime Minister Anwar Sadat.<br />
November 5: <strong>The</strong> first operational EF–111A defense-suppression aircraft was<br />
delivered to the 388th Electronic Combat Squadron at Mountain Home<br />
<strong>Air</strong> Force Base, Idaho. <strong>The</strong> EF–111A would eventually replace EB–66 and<br />
EB–57 aircraft to provide worldwide support <strong>of</strong> tactical air strike forces.<br />
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