  this is a list of aviation-related events from 1988: == events == ===january=== * sometime during the first week of january, the iraqi air force hits a greek-owned commercial cargo ship in the persian gulf with an exocet missile.cordesman, anthony h., and abraham r. wagner, the lessons of modern war, volume ii: the iran-iraq war, boulder, colorado: westview press, 1990, isbn 0-8133-1330-9, pp. 352n. * during early january, iran experiments with the use of agm-65 maverick air-to-surface missiles in antishipping strikes in the persian gulf. the mavericks warhead proves too small to inflict significant damage on merchant ships.cordesman, anthony h., and abraham r. wagner, the lessons of modern war, volume ii: the iran-iraq war, boulder, colorado: westview press, 1990, isbn 0-8133-1330-9, p. 363. * january 1 &ndash; the united states government begins to track the on-time-arrival and baggage-handling performance of u.s. airlines.associated press, "carriers do better on arrival time, liggage," the washington post, august 10, 2012, p. a9. * january 15 &ndash; since january 1, iraq has conducted five airstrikes against shipping in the persian gulf and one against urban and economic targets in iran, while iran has carried out two air attacks against persian gulf shipping, but none against urban and economic targets in iraq.cordesman, anthony h., and abraham r. wagner, the lessons of modern war, volume ii: the iran-iraq war, boulder, colorado: westview press, 1990, isbn 0-8133-1330-9, p. 365. * january 26 &ndash; the french ministry of defense approves full-scale development of the dassault rafale. * january 27 &ndash; an iraqi air force mirage f-1 flies an attack profile against the united states navy dock landing ship  in the persian gulf, apparently not realizing the identity of its target. another u.s. navy ship establishes radio contact with the mirage pilot and warns him off before he can fire at portland. * january 30 &ndash; a boeing 747 sets a new around-the-world record of 36 hours 54 minutes. * january 31 &ndash; since january 16, iraq has conducted 11 airstrikes against shipping in the persian gulf and iran has carried out two. neither country has attacked urban and economic targets on the others territory. ===february=== * in retaliation for a bomb attack on a bank in south-west africa, south african air force mirage aircraft attack the headquarters of the south west africa people's organization (swapo).brogan, patrick, the fighting 
Years_in_aviation