Not only is the air show returning to Fort Smith in 2027, organizers are also planning a 2028 air show. The Lightning Over the Fort Air Show, managed in part by the Fort Smith Patriot Association, is set for May 7-8, 2027, at the Fort Smith Regional Airport and Ebbing Air National Guard Base. Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tim Allen, a member of the Fort Smith Patriot Association, told the Fort Smith Regional Airport Commission Tuesday night (Aug. 4) that the International Council of Airshows (ICAS) set the date for the 2027 show and also said Fort Smith needed to schedule an air show for 2028 so the city could have a chance to schedule the U.S. Navy Blue Angels or the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. There is going to be some really awesome flying over Fort Smith and more than just F-35s. The show is a cooperative effort of the Fort Smith Regional Airport and the 188th Fighter Wing.