September 25, 2022

Robert Ator (right), director of military affairs for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, flies an F-35 simulator in August 2021 as Cody Blake, cockpit demonstrator instructor pilot for Lockheed Martin, directs him at TAC Air in Fort Smith. The simulation tutorial was preceded by a talk from 3rd District Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, about the Air Force’s selection for the Ebbing Air National Guard base to house up to 36 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lighting IIs and General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons fighter jets for Foreign Military Sales and training.

(NWA Democrat-Gazette/Max Bryan)