The truly massive Hughes H-4 Hercules flying boat was conceived by reclusive millionaire entrepreneur Howard Hughes in 1942 as a means of delivering massive quantities of
men and materiel to various war zones, hence avoiding the submarine menace that presented a constant threat to merchant ships.
On 2 November 1947, the Hercules - nicknamed the 'Spruce Goose' because of its wooden construction, although the wood was mainly birch, not spruce - made a short flight of about a mile over Los Angeles roadstead in front of an excited crowd estimated at 50,000 people, rising 21m off the water and reaching a speed of 129km/h. Yet by 1947 the aircraft no longer had any strategic value, and it never flew again. Today, it is on permanent
display at the Evergreen Air Venture Museum, McMinnville, Portland, Oregon. It is still the largest aircraft in the world (only by its wingspan).
FACTS AND FIGURES
� The four inner propellers had
reverse-pitch capability, allowing
the H-4 to back up and manoeuvre
easily on water. Each propeller was
5.2m in diameter.
� The 'Spruce Goose' was the only
Allied aircraft designed during the
war able to carry main battle tanks. In
theory a fleet of H-4s could have
ferried armies to Europe, saving time
and avoiding the risk from
submarines.
� The main structure was not spruce,
but laminated birch. Attempts to use
a resin-impregnated plywood material
called Duramold were unsuccessful.
The HK-1 (aka the Spruce Goose)was relocated from the Pier E hangar at the Port of Long Beach to the Queen Mary in 1984 because the lease with its Owner, Summa Corporation, sucessor to Hughes Tool Co., had long since expired and the site had reverted to a month to month rental. The Port, seeking higher revenue for the site solicited offers for use as a petro terminal, which was eventually leased to British Petorleum (BP) to import Alaskan Crude. I was the Project Manager for the lift and transport for the 1984 relocation to the Queen and again in 1994 from the Queen to its present site in McMinnville
I had the pleasure in 2009 of visiting the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum and of walking inside the "goose". It is probably the lfinest facility I have ever been in and I recommend it to anyone who gets within 200 miles. It is well worth the detour to see.
Anyone know why the Sproose-Goose was taken from Long Beach CA. next to the Qween Mary?? I had the oportunity to go in it at childhood and wanted to go again and found out it is not there anymore.
For Don Williams: Yes, those were indeed P&W R-4360's I flew C-124's for what seemed like forever. I had an opportunity to go into the cockpit years ago. After looking at the Engineer's panel and looking closely at the nacelle's those were 4360's.
The commenter named "seth hughes" cannot be referring to Howard Hughes, who had no children and was an only child himself. He had only couzins, none of whom were named Hughes. Most were named Lumis who inherited most of his estate. He needs to check his family tree a little closer, most of us at least know who our grandparents are.
Years ago I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to sit in the pilots seat and man the controls. I wish I had been with the greatest airplane designer in the world when he took this wonderful plane up for a test flight. I'm with the DVHAA at NAS /JRB Willow Grove ,PA. We have a 1915 D-8 German fighter plane on display and I have to say that anyone who fought in that war was a very brave person whether American, French or German. No oxygen, no parashute, no fire control, only guts.
I am a volunteer at the Museum and we are billed as the, Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum. Our Space Museum will open on 06 June 2008. It was Henry Kaiser who came to Hughes about building the Spruce Goose.
Hughes H-4 Hercules
Wing-Root Airfoil: NACA 63(420)-321
Wing-Tip Airfoil: NACA 65(420)-415
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