Hughes H-4 Hercules - fotografije in videoposnetki

V Hughes H-4 Hercules (znan tudi kot Smreka Gos; registracija NX37602) je prototip strateške zračne leteče ladje, ki jo je zasnovalo in zgradilo letalsko podjetje Hughes. Namenjen kot čezatlantski letalski prevoz za uporabo med drugo svetovno vojno, ni bil dokončan pravočasno, da bi se uporabljal v vojni. Letalo je 2. novembra 1947 opravilo le en kratek let, projekt pa ni nikoli napredoval onkraj proizvedenega enega samega primera. Zgrajen iz lesa zaradi omejitev v vojnem času uporabe aluminija in skrbi glede teže, so ga kritiki vzdevek Smrekova goska, čeprav je bil narejen skoraj v celoti iz breze. Herkul je največja leteča ladja doslej zgrajena in ima največji razpon kril vseh letal, ki so kdaj letela.

Vir: Hughes H-4 Hercules na Wikipediji

V 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 letal 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.