The Hughes H-4 Hercules, popularly referred to as the “Spruce Goose,” is frequently cited as the most uncommon aircraft in existence. To move troops and supplies over the Atlantic during World War II, Howard Hughes and his team created and constructed this enormous flying boat in the 1940s. The Hercules, however, was not finished in time for the war to end, and it only made one quick flight in 1947. Since then, travelers from all over the world have come to see the Spruce Goose on exhibit at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.
With a length of 218 feet and a wingspan of 320 feet, the Hercules is a remarkable feat of aviation. It is a whopping 400,000 pounds in weight and six floors tall. Eight Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major engines, totaling 80,000 horsepower, power the aircraft. The Hercules was the biggest and most potent aircraft ever built when it was built, and it is still a sight to behold today.
Although it was enormous and powerful, the Hercules only took flight once, on November 2, 1947. The flight traveled one mile and reached a height of 70 feet in a little more than a minute. In order to demonstrate the Hercules’ suitability as a transport aircraft, Hughes piloted this historic flight. The plane was never used, though, since the project was ultimately determined to be both too expensive and unworkable.
The Spruce Goose is currently one of the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum’s most well-liked attractions. Visitors can visit other aviation and space exploration-related exhibitions in addition to touring the enormous plane and learning about its history. The Spruce Goose and other antique aircraft are still being restored and preserved thanks to the museum’s daily entry costs.
The answer to the linked query, “Are any DC3s still flying?” is indeed. One of the most popular and long-lasting aircraft designs in history is the Douglas DC-3, often known as the Dakota. Between 1935 and 1945, more than 16,000 DC-3s were produced, several of which are still in use today. Others are still in service for commercial, military, or private purposes, while others have been retired or are on display at museums. A renowned symbol of the Golden Age of aviation, the DC-3 has become a favorite among pilots and aviation aficionados alike thanks to its toughness, adaptability, and dependability.