Solving the Wrong Problem

We often frame this in terms of keeping the cost of failure low...but that failure isn't really failure is it? No more than running a round of unit tests. Keep the cost of learning low.

This is trivially incorrect. If the problem is the creation of a magnum opus, then the solution is creating a magnum opus.

Failure doesn't have anything to do with it. It's not necessary to fail at all to improve your process; that this is the approach that's often most effective has nothing to do with the approach itself, it's a reflection of our poor models of the problem space.

If we had a thorough understanding of the problems surrounding human-powered flight, we'd be able (or much closer to being able) to create theoretical solutions that could be effective.

I don't know if Mr. Macready actually stated that "the process" was the problem, but if he did, I disagree with him as well. That the process many people use is sub-optimal and you find a better one does not mean their process was the problem. It means it was one of their problems. Further, that it can be much faster to iterate on experimental results without a solid model of the problem does not mean iteration is somehow "the answer." It means it's one way of getting to a solution without an accurate fundamental understanding of the problem.

Incidentally the photo showing the "speed ring" is nothing of the sort. Speed to fly rings are about 80mm in diameter to fit on an instrument face.