Old vs New

[Keith Spriggs]

The "Classic vs. Modern" thread prompted me to ask a question that I have been wondering about. Here is the setup. An expert flier practices and trims out two plane until he can fly each one to it's maximum potential. One is a forty year old plane design and components the other is a current model and components.

The question is, and I realize the opinions will be somewhat  subjective, How much better if any could the modern plane be flown?

[Joe Gilbert]

Kieth the two different generations of planes just plane old don't present the same nor do not fly the same to me. They have a different feel to them. But look at De Rice and a ringmaster he can make it do things it should not. Good hands can make a big difference.

[Robertc]

Perhaps a better question might be the old plane with modern engine, vs the modern plane with modern engine.

[Busby]

Billy ,with his old plane and up to date engine and prop says there is no comparison in the wind. I would say that fairly well defines the question.

[James Mills]

I've heard Bill Werewage say on at least of one of Bob Hunts videos that he feels the main advancement in the last several decades has been powertrain (and better building materials with CF, glues, and so on).

James

[Phil Bare]

The optimum (numbers) have not changed for a c/l stunt ship and neither have the laws of physics......It is my opinion, and only my opinion, that a well built and well flown Fox stunt .35 powered Nobler is still just as competative as any of the (new) Super gee whizz stunters of today....But then again.....I have never been a competative flier so I really don,t know....hmmmmmmmmmm, any one ever piped a Fox stunt .35??

[RC Storick]

Gonna talk about Old Vrs New in the magazine



I will say this the magazine quality will be better than this picture. I had to resize it to fit forum standards.

[Crist Rigotti]

Nice looking balsa fuselage!

[RC Storick]

For a sandwich

[Richard Oliver]

Take this from someone that has flown all of Al Rabe's personal planes, Some of Windy'spersonal planes, some of Billy's(built by someone other than Billy) some of Hunt's designs, Ted's, Walker, Randy Smith,and my own. There is no comparison. Then and now have different requirements for the plane. It used to be that you could fly loose and big and still score well. No longer! You used to be able to fly way above 45°, no longer. You used to be able to fly a soft corner, no longer. The difference is that with the thin airfoil and low power you can not do what judges today require for you to score well.
This is not to say you can not get in the ball park but when judges look at both back to back there just is no comparison. The older designs simply can not do the pattern as well as the modern design. The new power plants do help but can not give you proper lift for the small tight maneuvers needed to get the higher score today from the older designs. The top guys try and their trick is to fly the vertical 45° correct and to widen out the maneuver to give the plane time to recover the hard corners. In order to get the rounds tight and not get sloppy you have to fly faster. Faster means your reflexes have to speed up but now your corners open up because of the extra speed. Viscous cycle. The newer designs and power let you keep the speed down and still provide the lift needed for a tight maneuver and hard corner. Al Rabe was on the right tract IMHO 30 years ago and the power has now caught up with him.
RO

[Keith Spriggs]

Thanks to all for their intersting comments.