How I Built This with Guy Raz Electrifying aviation with Kyle Clark of BETA Technologies
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Aug 24, 2023 
Kyle Clark, Founder and CEO of BETA Technologies, is revolutionizing aviation with all-electric aircraft aimed at reducing emissions. He discusses the visionary leap from concept to creation, sparked by a pivotal meeting with Martine Rothblatt. The conversation delves into the ambitious goals of transforming medical logistics and reshaping the aviation industry’s approach to delivery systems. With plans for a national charging network, Clark emphasizes the potential cost-effective and sustainable future of air transport, addressing the challenges and innovations driving this electric revolution.
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Origin of Beta
- Kyle Clark's nickname in hockey was "Beta" because he was considered a nerd.
- He constantly tinkered with and built things, foreshadowing his future in aviation.
Early Influences
- Clark's father ran a machine shop at the University of Vermont.
- Clark spent his youth there, deconstructing existing designs and building airplane parts, ice boats, and go-karts.
Unrealistic Thesis
- While at Harvard, Clark wrote his thesis on a hybrid electric airplane, called Beta Air.
- His professors deemed the concept unrealistic in 2004.