The similarities between these machines helps make the writer's point, beautifully. [Courtesy: Ben Younger]
Key Takeaways:
The article laments a societal shift away from quality craftsmanship, driven by a consumer culture that prioritizes cheap, disposable goods over durability and repair.
It champions the unique value and deep personal connection found in products made by dedicated artisans, exemplified by high-performance vehicles and aircraft where human skill is essential for quality, longevity, and safety.
The author advocates for a resurgence of appreciation for skilled craft, suggesting that businesses should find ways to support artisans to maintain high standards, foster innovation, and combat the alienation of mass production.
The two machines pictured above do not conform to the rules of economy of scale. Both are made by hand to some degree, and done so to exacting tolerances in small numbers by dedicated craftsmen. Both have horizontally-opposed, six-cylinder engines. Both require a certain level of mastery to fully extract their potential. Both attract the mechanically zealous.
Both fly.
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Ben Younger is a TV and film writer/director, avid motorcyclist and surfer—but it’s being a pilot that he treats as a second profession. Find him on Instagram @thisisbenyounger.
