Episode 64 - Flying a Car? Nate Thuli on Making Aviation as Easy as Driving

What if flying didn’t have to feel complicated?

In this episode of Destination Aviation, host Jeff Miller sits down with Nate Thuli, President of Airhart Aeronautics, to talk about the future of personal flight.

Nate brings a rare mix of experience to the conversation, from his time in the U.S. Air Force to startup leadership and consumer technology innovation. Together, they unpack how cockpit complexity has held aviation back, why avionics—not airframes—are the real key to unlocking personal flight, and how modular, pilot-centric systems could lower the barrier to entry for new pilots.

The conversation explores what “human-first design” actually means in the cockpit, how disciplined systems engineering can coexist with startup speed, and why safety and simplicity don’t have to be tradeoffs. Nate also shares how Airhart is approaching next-generation avionics, MOSAIC and Light Sport integration, and the road toward making personal aviation more accessible.

It’s a grounded, honest, and occasionally humorous look at where aviation is headed—and what it will take to make flying feel less intimidating and a lot more natural.

And yes—Jeff does eventually learn this is not a Jetsons-style flying car. Please join us for a listen.

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