Due to developments in solar flare observations which appear to show that a particular class of solar flares result from instabilities occurring in magnetic loops we re-examine the Alfv6n-Carlqvist flare model to show that it is workable and we update the Spicer loop model of a flare. It is noted that the Alfv6n-Carlqvist model of necessity requires an external current driver which must maintain the current driven instability at marginal stability during the duration of the flare. In addition, it is argued that if the Alfv6n-Carlqvist model is to work the current density must rise in a time shorter than an MHD or resistive tearing mode time scale. Otherwise, the dominant flare mechanism must be an ideal MHD or tearing type instability. Further, the distinctions between the two models are highlighted and a new hybrid model of the Alfv6n-Carlqvist and Spicer models is introduced.