On January 20, 1974, General Dynamics test pilot Phil Oestricher took the YF16 Viper for an unplanned first flight at Edwards Air Force Base. During a highspeed taxi test, the airplane began to roll and his correction left it in a series of oscillations that threatened the aircraft. In keeping with an option presented at the safety meeting, Oestricher throttled up and took to the air rather than risk destroying the only YF16 in existence at the time. He landed the prototype six minutes later with no further incidents. Video by Giancarlo Casem/USAF/EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, CA, UNITED STATES