Hughes H-4 Hercules – Photos & Videos

The Hughes H-4 Hercules (also known as the Spruce Goose; registration NX37602) is a prototype strategic airlift flying boat designed and built by the Hughes Aircraft Company. Intended as a transatlantic flight transport for use during World War II, it was not completed in time to be used in the war. The aircraft made only one brief flight on November 2, 1947, and the project never advanced beyond the single example produced. Built from wood because of wartime restrictions on the use of aluminum and concerns about weight, it was nicknamed by critics the Spruce Goose, although it was made almost entirely of birch. The Hercules is the largest flying boat ever built, and it has the largest wingspan of any aircraft that has ever flown.

Source: Hughes H-4 Hercules on Wikipedia

The Hughes H-4 Hercules was a massive flying boat designed and built by Howard Hughes and his company during World War II. It was intended to transport troops and supplies across the Atlantic Ocean, avoiding the threat of German submarines. However, the project faced many delays and challenges, and the war ended before the aircraft was completed. The H-4 Hercules only flew once, on November 2, 1947, piloted by Hughes himself.
The flight lasted for about a minute and reached an altitude of 21 meters. The aircraft was made mostly of wood, using a special laminated process, to save metal for the war effort. This earned it the nickname “Spruce Goose”, although it was actually made of birch. The H-4 Hercules had a wingspan of 97.54 meters, making it the largest aircraft ever flown until 2019. It was powered by eight engines and could carry up to 750 soldiers or two tanks. The aircraft is now on display at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in Oregon, where it attracts many visitors who marvel at its size and history.