The future of flight isn’t louder—it’s quieter.
Mark Moore and Ian Villa are the co-founders of Whisper Aero, a Tennessee-based startup designing the next generation of electric propulsion—technology so quiet, clean, and efficient that it’s poised to transform everything from drones to airplanes to leaf blowers.
After 32 years at NASA, Mark left government research to bring aviation innovation to small-town America. Alongside Ian—a Stanford-trained aerospace engineer who helped build Uber Elevate’s flying car division—they set up shop in Crossville, Tennessee, proving that world-changing ideas don’t have to come from Silicon Valley.
Whisper Aero’s work isn’t just about advancing flight—it’s about reviving Main Street through innovation, creating high-skill jobs, and showing what’s possible when cutting-edge technology takes root in rural America.
From their hangar in Crossville, they’re building a quieter, cleaner, more connected future of flight—and redefining what American ingenuity looks like today.
Real stories. Real ownership. Real lessons from the field.
This is American Operator.
Join the Movement
Tactical insights and behind-the-scenes stories from America’s operators:
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.