Cleared for Takeoff: How Nathan Turned Questions into a Lasting Journey

Nathan’s passion for aviation took off at a young age, inspired by his father’s experiences as a plane enthusiast in Alaska. As he got older, he was fascinated with military aviation, and he immersed himself in books, movies, and podcasts. Yet, he always found himself wanting to ask more questions that interviews never seemed to cover. Rather than leaving them unanswered, Nathan took matters into his own hands and launched a YouTube channel. With little experience but a lot of determination, he started cold-emailing aviation professionals he had only dreamed of meeting. To his shock, within an hour, the author of Full Throttle, Scott Kartvedt, responded with a resounding yes! This marked a moment that opened doors to incredible experiences, including witnessing a private airshow in San Francisco and even sitting in the cockpit of a fighter jet.

Through it all, Nathan has learned one simple yet powerful lesson: “Say yes and just ask,” (Kartvedt). He believes that too many people hold themselves back out of fear of the unknown, and he hopes to inspire others, not just aspiring pilots, but anyone with a dream, to take that first step. Aviation is his future, and while the path isn’t always clear, he knows the best way forward is to keep moving, one step at a time. His entrepreneurial leap into podcasting is just the beginning.

Email: thataviationnerd@gmail.com

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@AviationNerdPodcast