When were the first F-5G's made?

[mthatcher61]

I know Siminoff helped launch the F-5L's in 1978. And obviously the 'L' stood for 'Loar' but I can't seem to find when production started on the F-5G's and what the 'G' designated. Could anybody help fill in these blanks?
Thank you
Mark

[MikeEdgerton]

The first prototypes were around 1988. The G stands for Gibson as attested to by both Bruce Weber and Steve Carlson. Here's a thread that discusses it. You can ignore the poster at the end that seems to disagree with the people that built them.

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?82450-The-F5G-and-Steve-Carlson

[mthatcher61]

Thanks Mike. This is just the stuff I was looking for.