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Early rocket
P-38 Lightning
Beechcraft D17A Traveler
Medium BomberSpruce Goose
During World War II, the United Sates was suffering losses of her shipping due to German U-boat attacks. American industrialist Henry Kaiser, famed builder of the "Liberty Ships", contacted Howard Hughes with an idea of building a fleet of large flying transports that could avoid the deadly U-boats. Hughes by this time was already an accomplished aviator, aircraft designer, and businessman. Hughes joint ventured with Kaiser, but the later withdrew from the project in 1944. Hughes pushed forward on his own.
The government placed restrictions that the airplane could not be made of materials critical to the war effort, like steel and aluminum. So wood was chosen as the primary material for the giant airplane that could carry as many as 750 soldiers. A prototype was constructed and named the Hughes Flying Boat H-4, aka the Spruce Goose.
The project was over the government's budget so Hughes sunk seven million dollars of his own money to keep the project going. The U.S. Senate formed an investigation committee to probe alleged misappropriation of funds. The investigation eventually exonerated Hughes of any alleged wrongdoing.
After being interrogated by the Senate, Hughes ordered the seaplane readied for taxi tests. Before a crowd of observers, on the third taxi run, Hughes lifted up the seaplane and demonstrated that the big bird could indeed fly. After its sole flight, the plane was placed in a special hanger and maintained in flight ready condition for the next 33 years.
The Spruce Goose is the largest wood aircraft ever flown. It dominates the interior of the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. At the museum, many historic aircraft lie under its wings and help to demonstrate the size of this giant airplane.
The historic events surrounding the Spruce Goose were depicted in the 2004 film, the "Aviator".
