During a high-speed taxi test, General Dynamics test pilot Phil Oestricher had to take off to avoid an accident and landed safely after about 6 minutes of unplanned flight. Thus a flight was carried out during the test, albeit by chance.
The F-16 program began its development in 1969. The ceremony of the first prototype leaving the hangar was held on 13 December 1973.
The first official flight took place on February 2, 1974, 15 days after the accidental flight.
