Founder Mode Electrifying Aviation with Kevin Noertker
EPISODE 33
Kevin Noertker, co-founder and CEO of Ampaire, is leading the charge toward sustainable aviation by electrifying the skies. In this episode, Kevin Henrikson and Jason Shafton visit Ampaire’s Long Beach hangar to talk about hybrid-electric aircraft, scaling innovation in a century-old industry, and why “hybrid isn’t the compromise—it’s the bridge.” Kevin shares how Ampaire is retrofitting existing planes to fly cleaner, safer, and farther using hybrid-electric propulsion, the challenges of certification and infrastructure, and the roadmap to fully electric flight. It’s a masterclass in pragmatic innovation—one that proves hardware can move fast when driven by purpose.
CHAPTERS
00:00 – Expanding Horizons of Hybrid Aviation
05:00 – From Aerospace Giant to Startup Founder
12:30 – Why Hybrid Beats Fully Electric (for Now)
20:00 – Capital Efficiency and Government Partnerships
27:45 – The Future of Flight: Hybrid as the Bridge
LINKS
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