This week in Edwards flight test history Published July 22, 2016 412th Test Wing Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- July 20, 1982 - The first flight of the F-16XL took place. General Dynamics modified a FSD F-16 to answer a U.S. Air Force requirement for a dual-role, longer-range fighter to support future air combat requirements. The F-16XL featured a cambered, cranked-delta wing with a sharp leading-edge sweep with twice the area of the original wing.