Oregon’s World Largest Wooden Plane Left Behind An Amazing Legacy
The World's Largest Wooden Built Plane Is Stored In Oregon
Oregon is home to one of the world's most amazing feats in aviation. You might not be familiar with the world's largest wooden plane but it does exist and yes, it can fly or it once flew for a short time.
The World's Largest Wooden Plane Is Nicknamed "The Spruce Goose"
In World War II, metals were scarce so the famed inventor and aviator Howard Hughes decided to build a massive flying fortress out of wood.
The plane is designated as Hughes H-4 Hercules and was intended to be a transatlantic flight transport.
The Hercules is the largest flying boat ever built and it held the record for the longest wingspan on any plane until 2019.
Did The Spruce Goose Ever Fly?
Howard Hughes wasn't able to get the plane done during World War II but did complete the plane until 1947.
It was meant to be a flying cargo ship and the cost was $23 million to build (roughly $213 million) in today's dollars.
The real question, as massive as the plane was, could it fly?
The Spruce Goose did one flight and one flight only.
Take A Peek Inside The Museum Where The Spruce Goose Is Displayed
November 2nd, 1947 was the date when Howard Hughes at the controls took the plane out for its first flight.
Naysayers didn't believe such a massive plane would fly but it did get airborne for 26 seconds, 70 feet above the ground, and flew for over a mile.
The H-4 Hercules proved the critics wrong but never flew again.
So where is the Spruce Goose these days? It's located in McMinnville Oregon at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum.
It's a massive well-preserved piece of history and Stacy Lee managed to snap some amazing photos of the Spruce Goose on a recent visit to Oregon.
Take a peek inside the museum:
10 Photos That Let You Peek Inside Of The Evergreen Aviation And Space Museum
The story of Howard Hughes H-4 Hercules is inspirational.
If you want to see a movie featuring the Spruce Goose, watch the movie "The Aviator".
A better way to celebrate the history of the plane is to check out the Spruce Goose in all of her glory at the museum in Oregon.