This is the official launch preview for What Follows, Airhart’s new aviation podcast hosted by Nate Thuli.
Season One brings together pilots, engineers, builders, aviation media leaders, operators, historians, and aerospace innovators for conversations about the people and ideas shaping the future of flight.
In this preview, Nate introduces the first season’s guest lineup, including legendary airline captain and author Les Abend, Johannes von Thadden of Draco Aircraft, Jacob Peed of AviNation, Greg Morris of Scaled Composites, Peter Manice on airline operations, and Hal Bryan of EAA.
From commercial aviation and STOL aircraft to aerospace experimentation, aviation media, airline operations, and the preservation of aviation history, What Follows explores the stories behind one of the world’s most inspiring industries.
Season One begins Thursday, May 21.
Key Topics
* Commercial aviation and pilot storytelling
* STOL aircraft and adventure aviation
* Aviation media and community
* Aerospace innovation and experimental aircraft
* Airline operations and real-time decision-making
Additional footage and media courtesy of the featured guests and their respective companies, including Airhart, Draco Aircraft, AviNation, Scaled Composites, and EAA.
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Les Abend on Reliability, Risk, and the Pilot’s Mindset
Season 1 · Episode 1
Thursday, May 21, 2026 • Duration 42:14
Welcome to the launch episode of What Follows — the podcast where we explore the people shaping aviation today, and the ideas defining what comes next.
In this first episode, host Nate Thuli speaks with Les Abend about his lifelong journey in aviation, from early childhood inspiration to a career defined by flying, writing, learning, and teaching. Les reflects on what it means to stay proficient as a pilot, why aircraft reliability and safety are deeply connected, and how technology, training, and judgment all shape the modern flying experience.
The conversation explores the realities of aircraft systems, avionics integration, maintenance challenges, risk management, and the importance of staying ahead of the airplane. Les also discusses how pilots can manage complexity, reduce cognitive load, and continue learning throughout their careers.
Key Topics
Les Abend’s aviation origin story and career pathThe relationship between writing, flying, and aviation educationAircraft reliability and maintenance challengesSystem integration and avionics in older aircraftHow technology affects pilot workload and decision-makingSafety, judgment, and risk management in flightCognitive load and staying ahead of the aircraftTraining, proficiency, and lifelong learningLessons from past aviation incidentsMaking aviation more accessible to future pilots
Themes
This episode centers on the idea that safe flying is not only about aircraft capability or technology, but about judgment, preparation, and continuous learning. Les emphasizes that reliability and safety go hand in hand, and that pilots must learn how to manage complexity before it manages them.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Peter Manice on Seaplanes, Electric Aircraft, and the Future of Regional
Season 1 · Episode 5
Thursday, June 18, 2026 • Duration 39:27
Welcome to this episode of What Follows — the podcast where we explore the people shaping aviation today, and the ideas defining what comes next.
In this episode, host Nate Thuli speaks with Peter Manice about the future of aviation, regional mobility, and the changing ways people may move between cities, airports, and coastal communities.
The conversation explores the promise of seaplane services, electric aircraft, eVTOL technology, and urban air mobility, while also examining the regulatory, economic, and infrastructure challenges that determine whether new aviation ideas can actually scale.
Peter discusses how time savings, customer acceptance, safety, certification, and aircraft design all influence the future of regional travel. From seaplanes to electric aircraft, the episode examines how aviation innovation could make short-distance travel faster, more flexible, and more practical.
Key Topics
The future of aviation and regional mobilityPeter Manice’s journey into aviationSeaplane services and regional travelTime efficiency in short-distance aviationElectric aircraft and eVTOL technologyUrban air mobility and new travel modelsFAA regulation, certification, and safetyCustomer education and public acceptanceInfrastructure needs for future air mobilityThe economics of aviation innovationThe future of electric and hybrid aircraftHow aircraft design is evolving
Key Frameworks
Physics vs. economics in aviationRegulatory hurdles in aviation innovationThe future of electric and hybrid aircraftUrban air mobility infrastructureCustomer acceptance and educationSafety as a condition for scalability
Themes
This episode focuses on the practical side of aviation innovation. Peter Manice explores why promising aircraft concepts must work not only technically, but economically, operationally, and socially.
The conversation frames the future of regional mobility as a balance between physics, regulation, infrastructure, and customer behavior. Seaplanes, electric aircraft, and eVTOLs may open new possibilities, but their success will depend on safety, certification, public trust, and their ability to solve real transportation problems better than existing options.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Greg Morris on Scaled Composites, Flight Testing, and Human-Centered Innovation
Season 1 · Episode 4
Thursday, June 11, 2026 • Duration 38:51
Welcome to this episode of What Follows — the podcast where we explore the people shaping aviation today, and the ideas defining what comes next.
In this episode, host Nate Thuli speaks with Greg Morris of Scaled Composites about his journey from childhood aviation enthusiast to a leader in experimental aerospace and flight testing.
Greg reflects on the culture of innovation at Scaled Composites, the importance of mission-focused design, and how teams learn, share knowledge, and manage risk when working at the edge of aerospace development. The conversation explores the balance between tradition and new technology, the role of test pilots, and why aviation systems must be designed around the human in the loop.
Nate and Greg also discuss automation, cockpit confidence, organizational culture, and the future of aviation technology — from experimental aircraft to the next generation of aerospace innovation.
Key Topics
Greg Morris’s aviation career path and early passion for flightFlight testing and test pilot educationThe culture of innovation at Scaled CompositesBalancing vintage aviation and future-facing technologyRisk management in experimental aerospaceOrganizational learning and knowledge sharingLeadership, legacy, and team cultureHuman-centered systems and automation designThe role of confidence in the cockpitMission-based optimization in aviation systemsEmerging technologies in aviation and aerospaceEncouraging the next generation of aviation innovators
Key Frameworks
Mission-based optimizationOne-way vs. two-way risk managementHuman-centered automationOrganizational culture in aerospace innovationHuman factors in aviation systemsBalancing automation with pilot judgment
Themes
This episode centers on the culture behind aerospace innovation. Greg Morris shows that breakthrough aviation work is not only about technology, but about teams, trust, learning, and a clear understanding of mission and risk.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Jacob Peed on AviNation, Youth Outreach, and the Future of Aviation
Season 1 · Episode 3
Thursday, June 4, 2026 • Duration 36:14
Welcome to this episode of What Follows — the podcast where we explore the people shaping aviation today, and the ideas defining what comes next.
In this episode, host Nate Thuli speaks with Jacob Peed, founder of AviNation, about his journey into aviation and his mission to connect young people with the opportunities, stories, and communities that can help them find a future in flight.
Jacob discusses how grassroots outreach, storytelling, scholarships, and community-building can make aviation more visible and accessible to the next generation. The conversation also explores changing entry points into the industry, new approaches to pilot training and workforce development, and the importance of showing young people that aviation offers far more than a single traditional path.
Key Topics
Aviation youth outreach and educationJacob Peed’s personal journey into aviationThe mission and growth of AviNationGrassroots community-building in aviationThe role of storytelling in inspiring new aviatorsMaking aviation more accessible to young peoplePilot training and workforce developmentBreaking down financial and cultural barriers to entryScholarships and alternative pathways into aviationMid-career transitions into aviationThe future of air taxis, maintenance careers, and aviation technology
Themes
This episode focuses on aviation as much as a community as an industry. Jacob emphasizes that inspiring the next generation requires more than technical training — it requires visibility, storytelling, mentorship, and real access to opportunities.
At the heart of the conversation is the idea that aviation’s future depends on making the industry feel reachable to students, young professionals, and career changers who may not yet see a place for themselves in flight.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Johannes von Thadden on Draco Aircraft, Autonomous Flight, and the Future of Accessible Aviation
Season 1 · Episode 2
Thursday, May 28, 2026 • Duration 43:15
Welcome to this episode of What Follows — the podcast where we explore the people shaping aviation today, and the ideas defining what comes next.
In this episode, host Nate Thuli speaks with Johannes von Thadden about the development of Draco Aircraft, an ambitious aviation project focused on short takeoff and landing performance, advanced safety systems, and the future of autonomous flight.
Johannes von Thadden discusses how his background across aerospace, space technology, and aviation shaped Draco’s mission, and why the next generation of aircraft may depend as much on energy storage, software, and intelligent systems as on traditional aircraft design. The conversation explores electric aviation, autonomous flying, air traffic efficiency, and the possibility of making private aviation safer, more accessible, and less dependent on conventional infrastructure.
Key Topics
The origins and development of Draco AircraftJohannes von Thadden’s journey from space technology to aviationShort takeoff and landing innovationThe role of AI and autonomous systems in future aviationSafety, automation, and pilot decision-makingThe future of private and accessible aviationElectric aircraft and energy storage challengesBattery technology and flight duration limitationsThe intersection of space systems and aviationHow technology could improve air traffic efficiency
Themes
This episode explores how aviation innovation is moving beyond traditional aircraft performance and into a new era shaped by autonomy, energy systems, software, and infrastructure. Johannes von Thadden presents Draco Aircraft as part of a broader shift toward aircraft that are safer, easier to operate, and capable of expanding access to flight.
At the center of the conversation is a key question for the future of aviation: how can new aircraft technologies reduce complexity for pilots and passengers while improving safety, reliability, and efficiency?
Resources
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Hal Bryan on EAA, AirVenture, and Inspiring the Next Generation of Aviation
Season 1 · Episode 6
Thursday, June 25, 2026 • Duration 54:31
Welcome to this episode of What Follows — the podcast where we explore the people shaping aviation today, and the ideas defining what comes next.
In this episode, host Nate Thuli speaks with Hal Bryan of the Experimental Aircraft Association about the aviation community, youth engagement, flight training, aircraft restoration, and the role EAA plays in keeping aviation accessible and inspiring.
Hal shares his own aviation origin story, from growing up around aircraft to becoming an influential voice in the aviation community. The conversation explores how EAA connects people through hands-on learning, restoration projects, Young Eagles flights, AirVenture Oshkosh, and a shared love of flight.
Nate and Hal also discuss the balance between tradition and innovation in aviation, from vintage aircraft and fundamental stick-and-rudder skills to modern avionics, autopilots, and flight simulation technology. Together, they examine how aviation can remain both technically advanced and deeply human.
Key Topics
Hal Bryan’s aviation origin storyThe mission and evolution of EAAHow EAA builds community across aviationYoung Eagles and youth engagement in aviationMaking aviation more accessible to new generationsAirVenture Oshkosh as a global aviation gatheringAircraft restoration and hands-on learningThe relationship between vintage and modern aviationFlight simulation and aviation educationPilot competence in a technology-driven eraBalancing automation with fundamental flying skillsThe future of general aviation and innovation
Key Frameworks
Aviation community buildingYouth engagement in aviationAccessibility as a driver of participationTradition and innovation in general aviationHands-on learning and aircraft restorationTechnology, simulation, and pilot competence
Themes
This episode focuses on aviation as a community built through access, mentorship, history, and shared experience. Hal Bryan presents EAA not only as an organization, but as a living network of pilots, builders, restorers, educators, and enthusiasts working to keep aviation approachable and inspiring.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
David Szondy on AI, Drones, and the Evolution of Aviation Technology
Season 1 · Episode 7
Thursday, July 2, 2026 • Duration 49:31
Welcome to this episode of What Follows — the podcast where we explore the people shaping aviation today, and the ideas defining what comes next.
In this episode, host Nate Thuli speaks with David Szondy about technological innovation, the burden of being a first mover, and how human competence evolves alongside new tools, systems, and machines.
The conversation begins with the history of technology: why breakthrough ideas are often misunderstood at first, how inventions move through cycles of experimentation and refinement, and why storytelling matters when explaining complex technological change. Nate and David also discuss the role of play, curiosity, and problem-solving in shaping the technologies that eventually transform society.
The episode then turns to aviation and aerospace, exploring AI, drones, electric propulsion, pilot automation, air traffic management, and the future of accessible flight. David reflects on both the promise and the limitations of emerging technologies, arguing that the future of aviation will depend not only on invention, but on how well people, systems, and institutions adapt to change.
Key Topics
First mover disadvantage and the challenge of educating the marketThe history of technology and misunderstood inventionsHow human competence evolves alongside new toolsThe role of play, curiosity, and experimentation in innovationThe iterative loop between problems and solutionsWhy storytelling matters in explaining technological changeComplex interactions between history, technology, and societyEmerging trends in aviation and aerospaceAI as a tool for improving pilot performanceThe rise of drones in military and civil aviationElectric propulsion and battery limitationsPilot automation and the future role of pilotsThe democratization of aviation and the flying car debateDecentralized air traffic managementWhy smaller players can drive aviation innovation
Themes
This episode explores technology as a living, iterative process rather than a simple line of progress. Nate and David discuss how innovations emerge through trial, failure, play, competition, and storytelling — and how first movers often carry the burden of explaining ideas before the market is ready for them.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Dick Knapinski on AirVenture Oshkosh and Aviation’s Family Reunion
Season 1 · Episode 8
Tuesday, July 7, 2026 • Duration 54:07
Welcome to this episode of What Follows - the podcast where we explore the people shaping aviation today, and the ideas defining what comes next.
In this episode, host Nate Thuli speaks with Dick Knapinski, Director of Communications of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), about the history, community, and enduring pull of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. From its beginnings as a small fly-in gathering to its evolution into aviation’s annual global reunion, Dick explains what makes Oshkosh unlike any other event in the world.
Dick reflects on why people may arrive for the airplanes, but return for the people. The conversation explores the family traditions, volunteer culture, youth programs, and chance encounters that turn AirVenture into a place where newcomers, builders, pilots, mechanics, enthusiasts, and aviation legends all share the same flight line.
Nate and Dick also discuss Young Eagles, KidVenture, aviation accessibility, military aircraft, hands-on education, product discovery, and the forums and workshops that help visitors become more confident aviators. Together, they show why AirVenture is more than an airshow: it is a living aviation city built around belonging, learning, and the freedom to fly.
Key Topics
* The origins and evolution of EAA AirVenture, from Milwaukee to Rockford to Oshkosh
* Why AirVenture has grown into a global gathering for every kind of aviator
* Dick Knapinski’s first visit to Oshkosh and his decades on the EAA staff
* Why visitors come for the airplanes and return for the people
* AirVenture as an intergenerational family tradition and volunteer-driven community
* KidVenture, Young Eagles, and creating a first meaningful encounter with flight
* Making aviation feel accessible to children, families, and newcomers
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Ben Klein on Aero, Private Air Travel, and the Future of Urban Mobility
Season 1 · Episode 9
Friday, July 10, 2026 • Duration 34:27
Welcome to this episode of What Follows — the podcast where we explore the people shaping aviation today, and the ideas defining what comes next.
In this episode, host Nate Thuli speaks with Ben Klein, CEO of Aero, about his journey from passionate aviator to aviation executive, and how Aero is rethinking private air travel through design, hospitality, safety, and customer experience.
Ben discusses how aviation creates freedom, why safety remains the foundation of the industry, and how new technologies may reshape the way people move between cities, airports, and regional destinations. The conversation explores Aero’s approach to premium air travel, the role of regulation in aviation innovation, and the future of urban air mobility, eVTOLs, and door-to-door travel.
Nate and Ben also discuss customer trust, the adoption of new aviation technologies, and why the future of flight depends on combining operational discipline with a better travel experience.
Key Topics
Ben Klein’s aviation journey and passion for flightThe path from pilot to CEOAero’s approach to private and premium air travelBridging the gap between commercial and private aviationCustomer experience and hospitality in aviationSafety protocols and operational disciplineThe role of trust in adopting aviation technologyUrban air mobility and future travel modelseVTOLs and door-to-door transportationRegulatory challenges in aviation innovationTechnology, safety, and customer confidenceThe future of regional and urban air travel
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
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Additional footage and media courtesy of the featured guests and their respective companies, including Airhart, Draco Aircraft, AviNation, Scaled Composites, and EAA.
Follow Airhart
Visit Airhart and follow along for new What Follows episodes, clips, and updates.
Additional footage and media courtesy of the featured guests and their respective companies, including Airhart, Draco Aircraft, AviNation, Scaled Composites, and EAA.
A major theme is the relationship between humans and machines. Rather than treating automation as a replacement for pilots, the conversation frames technology as something that must be designed around human judgment, confidence, and responsibility. At Scaled Composites, innovation depends on both forward-looking engineering and a deep respect for the human in the loop.
Additional footage and media courtesy of the featured guests and their respective companies, including Airhart, Draco Aircraft, AviNation, Scaled Composites, and EAA.
Follow Airhart
Visit Airhart and follow along for new What Follows episodes, clips, and updates.
Additional footage and media courtesy of the featured guests and their respective companies, including Airhart, Draco Aircraft, AviNation, Scaled Composites, and EAA.
Follow Airhart
Visit Airhart and follow along for new What Follows episodes, clips, and updates.
Additional footage and media courtesy of the featured guests and their respective companies, including Airhart, Draco Aircraft, AviNation, Scaled Composites, and EAA.
Follow Airhart
Visit Airhart and follow along for new What Follows episodes, clips, and updates.
A major theme is the balance between old and new: vintage aircraft and modern avionics, hands-on mechanical knowledge and digital simulation, fundamental pilot skills and advanced automation. The conversation shows how aviation’s future depends on preserving its traditions while continuing to invite new people into the sky.
Additional footage and media courtesy of the featured guests and their respective companies, including Airhart, Draco Aircraft, AviNation, Scaled Composites, and EAA.
In aviation, the conversation focuses on the next wave of transformation: AI-assisted pilots, drones, electric propulsion, advanced air mobility, and more decentralized air traffic systems. Rather than presenting technology as a replacement for human skill, the episode frames it as a tool that can expand competence, improve safety, and open new possibilities for flight.
Additional footage and media courtesy of the featured guests and their respective companies, including Airhart, Draco Aircraft, AviNation, Scaled Composites, and EAA.
Follow Airhart
Visit Airhart and follow along for new What Follows episodes, clips, and updates.
This episode centers on AirVenture Oshkosh as a place of belonging. Dick Knapinski presents the event not simply as an airshow or trade gathering, but as a yearly homecoming for aviation: a place where people can find their own community, whether they build airplanes, fly ultralights, restore warbirds, manage a local airport, or are seeing an airplane up close for the first time.
A major theme is accessibility. Through Young Eagles flights, KidVenture, family programming, free entry for young people, open conversations with pilots and exhibitors, and hands-on education, the aviation community can lower the psychological barriers that make flight seem distant or inaccessible. The episode argues that a first touch of an airplane, a first flight, or a first conversation with a pilot can shape a lifelong relationship with aviation.
Another theme is the balance of heritage and progress. AirVenture brings together vintage aircraft, military history, flight testing, modern avionics, emerging technology, and future-focused education. Its real strength is not choosing between tradition and innovation, but allowing both to live together in a community that keeps learning, sharing, and looking ahead.
Additional footage and media courtesy of the featured guests and their respective companies, including Airhart, Draco Aircraft, AviNation, Scaled Composites, and EAA.
Follow Airhart
Visit Airhart and follow along for new What Follows episodes, clips, and updates.
This episode focuses on how aviation innovation is shaped not only by aircraft and technology, but by safety, trust, regulation, and customer experience. Ben Klein frames aviation as a form of freedom, while also emphasizing that freedom depends on disciplined operations and a deep commitment to safety.
A major theme is the evolution of premium and private air travel. Through Aero, the conversation explores how aviation companies can rethink the passenger experience by combining private-terminal convenience, high-touch hospitality, and operational reliability. The episode also looks ahead to urban air mobility, eVTOLs, and the possibility of more seamless door-to-door travel.
Additional footage and media courtesy of the featured guests and their respective companies, including Airhart, Draco Aircraft, AviNation, Scaled Composites, and EAA.
Follow Airhart
Visit Airhart and follow along for new What Follows episodes, clips, and updates.
