Alex Clarke recalls that Jamie had covered the F-35 for years while struggling to obtain answers to readers' questions. In that account, critics supplied plenty of information, but supporters were less willing to speak on the record. A conversation with Steve George, an engineer involved in the project, gave Jamie an opportunity to ask questions that had remained difficult to answer. Earlier conversations with George also informed Clarke's favorable assessment of the aircraft.
Notable Point · 3:45:28-3:47:15
F-35 reporting and access to engineering sources
A journalist's difficulty obtaining on-record answers about the F-35 explains the value placed on speaking with an engineer involved in the project.