In this episode of Destination Aviation, we sit down with Gary Powers Jr.—author, public speaker, and Cold War historian—who has dedicated his life to preserving the truth about his father’s legacy.

Carrying forward one of the most debated stories of the Cold War, Gary shares how his mission has been to correct decades of misinformation and ensure the real story is told: that his father did not cooperate with the USSR while in captivity.

We explore Gary’s journey from discovering deeply personal letters his father wrote while imprisoned in the Soviet Union, to understanding the global tension surrounding the incident—including the dramatic prisoner exchange that brought his father home. He also reflects on the surreal experience of seeing his father portrayed on screen by Lee Majors, and his own role as a consultant on Steven Spielberg’s Cold War thriller Bridge of Spies, starring Tom Hanks.

Gary has authored eight books on the subject, with a new release coming this May, and continues to educate audiences through his work and as the founder of a Cold War museum near Washington, D.C.

This is a powerful conversation about history, legacy, and one son’s commitment to setting the record straight.

🔗 Learn more, book Gary to speak, or explore his books: https://garypowers.com/

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In this episode of Destination Aviation, we sit down with entrepreneur and innovator Miles Spencer for a conversation that lives at the intersection of technology, memory, and legacy.

Miles is the co-founder and CEO of Reflekta, a groundbreaking “soul tech” platform designed to preserve the voices, stories, and personalities of loved ones—allowing future generations to interact with dynamic, AI-driven versions of those who have passed. Built from a deeply personal desire to have “one more conversation” with family, Reflekta is redefining how we think about memory, grief, and connection across time.

With a career spanning media, entrepreneurship, and storytelling—including his time as co-host of PBS’s MoneyHunt—Miles has long explored the power of narrative. Today, he’s pushing boundaries by turning memories into living, interactive legacies that can endure for generations.

But this conversation goes beyond technology.

We also dive into Miles’ passion for aviation and adventure, including his parachuting experiences and his upcoming jump over Normandy—an event honoring the courage and sacrifice of Allied troops from World War II. Set against one of history’s most meaningful backdrops, this jump reflects both remembrance and the idea that legacy is something we actively carry forward.

From the skies over Normandy to the future of artificial intelligence, this episode explores a powerful question:

What does it really mean to be remembered?

Miles Spencer:

The Shoebox Goes Digital: Modern Tools for Memory Capture | Reflekta - Miles to Go.

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In this episode of Destination Aviation, we sit down with Jennifer C. Rykaczewski, the driving force behind Affordable Skies.

Jennifer and her team are focused on something that affects everyone: making sure flying remains within reach for everyday travelers. As ticket prices fluctuate and costs continue to rise, Affordable Skies is working to advocate for greater transparency, fairness, and affordability across the commercial aviation landscape.

Through her efforts, Jennifer is shining a light on the real financial pressures facing passengers today, while pushing for solutions that help keep air travel accessible for families, communities, and future generations.

In this conversation, we dig into what’s driving the cost of flying, why affordability matters now more than ever, and what’s at stake if access to air travel begins to slip away. Because this isn’t just about getting from point A to point B—it’s about preserving connectivity, opportunity, and economic mobility.

If you’ve ever questioned where the cost of flying is headed—and whether it will remain accessible to the average traveler—this episode offers a timely and important perspective on keeping the skies open to all.

Affordable Skies:

Affordable Skies | Consumer Advocacy Group

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In this gripping episode of Destination Aviation, we sit down with author Kevin Hazzard to explore his latest book, No One’s Coming—a real-life aviation thriller that puts you in the middle of one of the most daring air medical rescue missions in history.

Set against the backdrop of the 2014 Ebola outbreak, the story follows a high-stakes race against time as two infected American aid workers must be evacuated from West Africa. With the clock ticking and the risks nearly unimaginable, a small, unconventional aviation company—Phoenix Air—is called upon to attempt what many believed was impossible: safely transport highly contagious patients across the globe.

Hazzard takes us inside the cockpit and behind the scenes of this unprecedented mission, where pilots, engineers, and medical teams pushed the limits of aviation, medicine, and courage. The result is a tense, cinematic account of innovation under pressure and the kind of aviation story you rarely hear—one where the stakes aren’t just high, they’re global.

In our conversation, we dive into the real events behind the book, the challenges of flying bio-containment missions, and what this story reveals about aviation’s critical role in global crisis response.

If you’re passionate about aviation, emergency response, or just love an incredible true story, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

👉 Grab your copy of the book here:
No One’s Coming: Hazzard, Kevin: 9781538783177: Amazon.com: Books

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In this special episode of Destination Aviation, Jeff takes you behind the scenes of his very first vlog — now live on our YouTube channel.

The journey starts briefly in Florida at the ACI-NA CEO meeting, where aviation leaders from across the country gathered to talk airports, innovation, and the future of our industry. From there, Jeff heads west to the desert for the high-energy, jet-fueled excitement of the Buckeye Air Fair in Arizona.

But this trip wasn’t just about airplanes. Along the way, Jeff explores the town of Buckeye, takes in some local flavor, and captures the travel experience that makes aviation more than just what happens on the runway.

If you’re someone who primarily listens to the podcast, this episode gives you a preview of what you can now see on our YouTube channel — air show action, travel moments, and the full visual experience from the Buckeye trip.

🎥 Be sure to check out our first official Destination Aviation vlog on YouTube and let us know what you think.

This is aviation — on the ground, in the air, and now on video.

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Why do billions of dollars in Gulf tourism and real estate marketing often fail to connect with American travelers?

In this episode of Destination Aviation, Jeff sits down with Rihab Abouzaki, a GCC–US advertising strategist who has spent more than two decades helping tourism boards, luxury travel brands, and real estate developers bridge the gap between the Middle East and Western audiences. With deep experience across the UAE and Gulf region—and now based in the United States—Rihab specializes in translating cross-border campaigns into strategies that actually influence traveler decisions. Her work reflects the importance of cultural understanding and authentic messaging when marketing across international audiences.

Rihab explains why traditional marketing metrics often fail to convert into real travel demand, how airline and tourism partnerships can shape traveler behavior, and why routing campaigns through the right media platforms and partners is critical to reaching US-based decision-makers. She also shares tactical insights into content strategy, targeting luxury and long-haul travelers, and how destinations can align with the way Western travelers actually plan trips.

Whether you work in aviation, destination marketing, airport management, or simply want a behind-the-scenes look at how global travel demand is influenced, this episode offers a practical look at what works—and what doesn’t—in cross-border tourism marketing.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

• Why GCC tourism campaigns often miss US travelers
• How airline partnerships influence destination demand
• Which media platforms actually drive Western travel decisions
• Practical strategies for marketing long-haul and luxury destinations
• How to translate—not just language—but cultural intent in global campaigns

Connect with Rihab Abouzaki

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rihab-abouzaki-80448322/

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What if flying didn’t have to feel complicated?

In this episode of Destination Aviation, host Jeff Miller sits down with Nate Thuli, President of Airhart Aeronautics, to talk about the future of personal flight.

Nate brings a rare mix of experience to the conversation, from his time in the U.S. Air Force to startup leadership and consumer technology innovation. Together, they unpack how cockpit complexity has held aviation back, why avionics—not airframes—are the real key to unlocking personal flight, and how modular, pilot-centric systems could lower the barrier to entry for new pilots.

The conversation explores what “human-first design” actually means in the cockpit, how disciplined systems engineering can coexist with startup speed, and why safety and simplicity don’t have to be tradeoffs. Nate also shares how Airhart is approaching next-generation avionics, MOSAIC and Light Sport integration, and the road toward making personal aviation more accessible.

It’s a grounded, honest, and occasionally humorous look at where aviation is headed—and what it will take to make flying feel less intimidating and a lot more natural.

And yes—Jeff does eventually learn this is not a Jetsons-style flying car. Please join us for a listen.

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In this episode of Destination Aviation, we sit down with George Sakas of Chicago Executive Airport (KPWK) to talk about a career path that’s anything but ordinary. George shares his journey from serving in the U.S. Army—where he drove tanks—to finding his way into aviation and ultimately becoming the Director of Economic Development & Administrative Services at one of the nation’s busiest general aviation airports.

We discuss how his military experience shaped his leadership style, the skills that translated from armored vehicles to airport management, and what it takes to drive growth and development at Chicago Executive Airport. From economic strategy and airport operations to workforce development and the future of general aviation, George offers insight into the behind-the-scenes work that keeps an airport moving.

This conversation is a great listen for anyone interested in aviation careers, airport leadership, military-to-civilian transitions, and the people who make aviation happen beyond the cockpit.

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