i don't want to get into this too far but those same mototrs you are talking about that perform better than moddern cars and are ejust as efficient could be MORE efficient and perform BETTER with fuel injection... auto manufacturers didn't stop using carbs because fuel injection sounds cooler.Actually, there are several carburetor cars that have better performance than "modern" autos. And there were a few that could be as efficient. The problem was that most had huge V-8 engines (at least in the US) and were made of very heavy materials.
you are taking my comparisons too literaly. the write brothers spent years designing and testning a plane that flew for 14 seconds not and intestellar spacecraft. it was made of wood and cloth. apples and oranges.
you are right, perhaps tom could draw a pretty pretty picture of a ship, but without the egineering behind it doesn't do much good without the propper engineering behind it, extensive testing(before and after its built) i find it very hard to believe that tom possed the knowlage to design a ship completly and have the plans ready fro production in such a short time. maybe given alot more time and consultuing with engineers along the way