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.

Subscribe to AO's Newsletter 🗞️
Find BTS with more Owners on Youtube 🎥
Follow us on Instagram: @TheAmericanOperator 📸
Follow Joseph Cabrera on LinkedIn 🔗