The Flying Aces Moth is so-called because its plans were first published in Flying Aces Magazine over 80 years ago, and is still a popular design. YouTube videos can be found like " Flying Aces Moth - Stronger Motor " by sandfac showing a good 1 minute flight (818 views · 4/25/2017). The Peck kit I built from is still available ( https://www.wind-it-up.com/products/flying-aces-moth ) and Kits may be had at other places. Wing Span is 24 inches. While I started with the 8 inch plastic Propeller, that came with the kit, I eventually used an 8.5 inch diameter Balsa blank from Superior Props (Volare Products) to make the propeller from the original design as shown in the picture. With it, I got a 1 minute + flight at the 2016 out door Champs Meet, unfortunately after official flights were over. The next year I took it to Bong recreation area and had a fly away, while I installed a dethermalizer, I hadn’t installed the fuse.
All up weight at Muncie with Superior 8.5 inch balsa prop was 49.3 g (airframe 38.9 g, motor 10.4 g ). With a wing area of 77 sq inches, wing loading is 3.3 ounces / sq ft and cube loading is 4.5 oz/ cu ft. Climb wasn’t so good with the 8 inch plastic prop in the kit. A flight with a 4 strand motor 21 inches long wound to over 1200 turns lasted 33 seconds, after adding a 1/8 inch incidence block at the wing leading edge. After switching to the 8.5 inch diameter balsa prop, I needed to make adjustment for improved thrust. The only official flight with the new prop was at first day of 2016 FAC Outdoor Champs. Had too much wing incidence for more powerful prop, got 13th place -sorted it out next day. Motor is 6 strands X 1/8 inch (Volare says 4 strands X 3/16 rubber - close equivalent). When I wound to 840 turns, got a 65 sec flight after table R.O.G. takeoff. The Balsa Prop is 1.2 g lighter than Peck 8 inch plastic one, and gives much more thrust than with 1200 turns in 4 strand X 1/8 motor and Peck 8 inch prop.
