The crazy designs from 100+ years ago though were more impressive though because of the limitations imposed from not yet having electronics, computers, software.... They had to be incredibly clever mechanically. I too was impressed from the video the way the guy iterated in clever ways to address issues that came up. And, as I say, iterated within a relatively narrow realm of options.
Ads a counter-example, I watch hobbyists on YouTube these days that build and fly various R/C contraptions that would not have been do-able in the days of small gasoline engines and huge, heavy radio receivers. It's like today you can take a sheet of foam from Lowes, strap on some high efficiency brushless DC motors, double-sticky-tape on an ESC, receiver and be flying that sheet of foam by the afternoon. Too easy.
Ads a counter-example, I watch hobbyists on YouTube these days that build and fly various R/C contraptions that would not have been do-able in the days of small gasoline engines and huge, heavy radio receivers. It's like today you can take a sheet of foam from Lowes, strap on some high efficiency brushless DC motors, double-sticky-tape on an ESC, receiver and be flying that sheet of foam by the afternoon. Too easy.