Greg Morris on Scaled Composites, Flight Testing, and Human-Centered Innovation

Welcome to this episode of What Follows — the podcast where we explore the people shaping aviation today, and the ideas defining what comes next.In this episode, host Nate Thuli speaks with Greg Morris of Scaled Composites about his journey from childhood aviation enthusiast to a leader in experimental aerospace and flight testing.Greg reflects on the culture of innovation at Scaled Composites, the importance of mission-focused design, and how teams learn, share knowledge, and manage risk when working at the edge of aerospace development. The conversation explores the balance between tradition and new technology, the role of test pilots, and why aviation systems must be designed around the human in the loop.Nate and Greg also discuss automation, cockpit confidence, organizational culture, and the future of aviation technology — from experimental aircraft to the next generation of aerospace innovation.Key TopicsGreg Morris’s aviation career path and early passion for flightFlight testing and test pilot educationThe culture of innovation at Scaled CompositesBalancing vintage aviation and future-facing technologyRisk management in experimental aerospaceOrganizational learning and knowledge sharingLeadership, legacy, and team cultureHuman-centered systems and automation designThe role of confidence in the cockpitMission-based optimization in aviation systemsEmerging technologies in aviation and aerospaceEncouraging the next generation of aviation innovatorsKey FrameworksMission-based optimizationOne-way vs. two-way risk managementHuman-centered automationOrganizational culture in aerospace innovationHuman factors in aviation systemsBalancing automation with pilot judgmentThemesThis episode centers on the culture behind aerospace innovation. Greg Morris shows that breakthrough aviation work is not only about technology, but about teams, trust, learning, and a clear understanding of mission and risk.A major theme is the relationship between humans and machines. Rather than treating automation as a replacement for pilots, the conversation frames technology as something that must be designed around human judgment, confidence, and responsibility. At Scaled Composites, innovation depends on both forward-looking engineering and a deep respect for the human in the loop.ResourcesScaled Composites: https://scaled.com/JetZero Project: https://www.jetzero.org/Burt Rutan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burt_RutanTiger Check by Stephen Fino: https://www.amazon.com/Tiger-Check-Development-Combat-Effectiveness/dp/0897470954Guest LinksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-morris/Twitter / X": https://twitter.com/gregmorrisCreditsHost: Nate ThuliMusic: Eugeny BardyuzhaArtwork: Edmond HuotProduced by: Helwing VillamizarAdditional MediaAdditional footage and media courtesy of the featured guests and their respective companies, including Airhart, Draco Aircraft, AviNation, Scaled Composites, and EAA.Follow AirhartVisit Airhart and follow along for new What Follows episodes, clips, and updates.Website: AirhartYouTube: Airhart on YouTubeLinkedIn: Airhart on LinkedInInstagram: Airhart on Instagram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whatfollowspodcast.substack.com