This is a list of aviation-related events from 1996:

Events

February

• the T-6 Texan II is selected as the new primary trainer for the United States armed forces.

March

• March 15 - The Fokker aircraft manufacturer is declared bankrupt.
• March 21 - Tupolev and NASA begin joint research into civil supersonic transports using a refurbished Tupolev Tu-144

April

• April 12 - Seven year old pilot Jessica Dubroff dies during attempt to set record as the youngest person to fly across the United States.

June

• June 9 - the Swedish Air Force opens a new pilot training centre at Såtenäs

July

• July 17 - TWA Flight 800, a Boeing 747 with 230 people aboard, explodes off the coast of New York.
• July 27 - the final General Dynamics F-111F attack aircraft are withdrawn from USAF service; on its retirement, the aircraft finally receives an official popular name: "Aardvark."

October

• October 8 - three B-2 Spirits destroy 16 targets with 16 smart bombs at the Nellis AFB range.

December

• the merger of McDonnell Douglas and Boeing is announced

First flights

• Boeing Bird of Prey

January

• January 4 - RAH-66 Comanche

March

• March 16 - MiG/MAPO MiG-AT

April

• April 4 - Extra 400
• April 25 - Yakovlev Yak/AEM-130

May

• May 22 - Airbus A319

June

• June 19 - Scaled Composites Boomerang

August

• August 6 - Kawasaki OH-1

September

• September 30 - Aero L-59 Super Albatros

October

• Kawada Robocopter
• October 29 - PZL SW-4 helicopter

Entered service