The Bulletin with UBS 250 years of US innovation, part two: Aviation
Jan 5, 2026
Join Nathaniel Gabriel, an equity strategist at UBS, as he delves into the fascinating world of aviation innovation. He discusses how historical trends in aviation inform modern forecasting and explores key milestones from the Wright Flyer to cutting-edge designs. Gabriel highlights the role of military partnerships in accelerating flight advancements and examines the impact of government contracts on aviation projects. He also sheds light on sustainable aviation fuels and the exciting prospects of urban air mobility, showcasing how technology is reimagining the future of flight.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Innovation Moves In Long Cycles
- Aviation progress follows long iterative cycles driven by physics and materials science.
- Understanding past cycles helps forecast modern industrial and aviation trends.
Physics Still Sets The Limits
- The core constraint in aviation remains the laws of physics and material science.
- Engineers iterate designs, test in wind tunnels, and solve one major problem at a time.
Military Demand Drove Early Scale
- Military demand shaped aviation from the earliest days, buying faster planes and driving specialization.
- By World War I and II military contracts drove mass production and transformed aviation into a strategic domain.