On Mar 7, 7:17 pm, Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
Dan wrote in news:45b07162-394c-4fd9-824d-
:





On Mar 7, 6:51 pm, Bertie the Bunyip wrote:

, the saddest part is after 130 years they haven't improved much at
all.
I love old engines. i've owned a bbunch of real old machines (
including
a coule of 19th century cars) and their efficiency isnt significantly
worse than what;s out there today ( though they were a bit draftier)

Bertie

Very true. The E-185 in the 1947 Bonanza 35 I fly burns about 8 GPH to
fly 130 KIAS at 5000'. The C172E with the 145 HP engine we flew
yesterday burns 6-7 for about 110 KIAS (much draggier airframe, of
course).

About the only thing that's improved in IC is power to weight.

Now if you're talking motorcycles, the improvements in ride, handling,
speed, braking, adhesion -- you name it -- is night and day. The old
bikes are neat, but to get someplace fast -- give me a new bike any
day (and I've had both).

Makes me wish Honda was building airplanes...

Still prefer my 1922 Raleigh... ..

Handling? Nothing beats a 1962 Matchless. . Brakes, I'll give you, but
the percentages are small. Performance is up but so is fuel
consumption...

Bertie

Get out... now that would be some ride!

A good, stiff road bicycle caring down a mountainside would probably
be the closest in feeling, I suppose?

The biggest leaps I've experienced have been in adhesion in turns,
suspension (and thus cornering), and of course acceleration. I can
take turns on today's tires at speeds I simply wouldn't try on older
skins.

And of course that lovely 0-150 in less time that I care to
remember....

(Until I flew a Bonanza the Yamaha was the fastest machine I'd ever
piloted)

Dan