Why The Spruce Goose Only Flew Once - Simple Flying

Close

• • AIRLINES
  • AIRPORTS
  • AIRCRAFT
  • MANUFACTURERS
• • THREADS
  • VIDEOS
  • PODCAST

• Sign in
• Newsletter

Menu Follow Followed Like More Action Sign in now News Reviews Boeing Airbus Threads Close By Luke Bodell , Jonathan E. Hendry & Simple Flying Staff Updated Apr 27, 2024 Sign in to your Simple Flying account Add Us On follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

Summary

• The H-4 Hercules, also known as the Spruce Goose, was the world's largest plane during its time, featuring a wingspan of 320 feet and 11 inches.
• Despite being built for war, the Spruce Goose never found a place in the modern world and flew for the first and last time over 75 years ago.
• The aircraft had impressive specifications, including a cruising speed of 250 mph, a range of 3,000 miles, and a planned passenger capacity of 750 occupants.

In an industry where size matters, the largest aircraft are often the ones that most strongly capture the hearts and minds of both aviation enthusiasts and the general public. At the time of its construction, the Hughes H-4 Hercules, familiarly known as the Spruce Goose, was the world's largest plane. However, it was built for a war that was already over and never found a place in our modern world.

The world's largest wingspan

It has been over three-quarters of a century since the Spruce Goose flew for the first and last time in 1947. During this period, in the immediate postwar era, the Spruce Goose plane had the biggest wingspan in the world, at 320 feet and 11 inches (97.82 meters), the length of a city block (since eclipsed by the Stratolaunch). The flying boat was six times larger than any aircraft of its time - powered by eight engines and weighing 400,000 pounds (181,436 kg), it would be able to carry more cargo than anything to date.

Love aviation history? Discover more of our stories here.

The Spruce Goose's specifications included a cruising speed of 250 mph (400 km/h) and a range of 3,000 miles (4,800 km or 2,600 NM). In terms of passenger capacity, it was planned to seat some 750 occupants and would be flown by a three-person crew. Its length and height were 218 feet and 8 inches (66.65 meters) and 79 feet and 4 inches (24.18 meters), respectively, making it a veritable colossus.

Specs	Spruce Goose
Wingspan	320 feet, 11 inches (97.54 meters)
Length	218 feet, 8 inches (66.65 meters)
Height	79 feet, 4 inches (24.18 meters)
Max Takeoff Weight (MTOW)	750,000 pounds (340,194 kg)
Engines	8 x Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major
Horsepower	24,000 hp (8 x 3,000 hp)
Expected Cruising Speed	250 mph (400 km/h)
Range	2,600 NM (4,828 kilometers)
Capacity	Planned for 750 troops (in troop transport configuration)

The Hughes H-4 Hercules' nickname of 'Spruce Goose' was derived from the enormous aircraft built primarily of wood. This was a result of wartime restrictions on the use of aluminum, as well as weight concerns. As pictured above, its interior looked more like a boat than an aircraft.

Why was it built?

In 1942, against the violent backdrop of the ongoing Second World War, the United States Navy was losing ships to German U-boats in the Atlantic Ocean. Consequently, it began searching for a safer way to transport its troops and supplies to Europe by air. Subsequently, shipbuilder Henry J. Kaiser came up with the idea to work with the famous plane designer Howard Hughes to create the largest aircraft ever built.

Dubbed the HK-1, it could carry up to 150,000 pounds (68,000 kg) of materials, 750 troops, or two 30-ton M4 tanks. Different concepts were considered, including a double fuselage with up to eight engines. The wood used to build the plane was a particular composite of plywood and resin made from Birchwood.

Want answers to more key questions in aviation? Check out the rest of our guides here.

Construction of the colossal aircraft eventually finished at the cost of $23 million ($306 million today) in 1947. By this time, the Second World War was already two years in the past, having come to an end in 1945.

Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Amid amplified concerns about national expenditure, Hughes was summoned to appear before a Senate Committee in 1947. In his statement, he highlighted just how important the project was to him, telling them:

"The Hercules was a monumental undertaking. It is the largest aircraft ever built. It is over five stories tall with a wingspan longer than a football field. That's more than a city block. Now, I put the sweat of my life into this thing. I have my reputation all rolled up in it, and I have stated several times that if it's a failure, I'll probably leave this country and never come back. And I mean it."

The one and only flight

The aircraft's maiden flight occurred on November 2nd, 1947, in front of an unsuspecting crowd. The plane was brought out to undertake taxi tests at Long Beach Harbor, California. Hughes himself was behind the controls, along with a co-pilot, two engineers, 16 mechanics, and several press members to record the day's events. The plane underwent two taxi runs, keeping it below its 95 mph lift-off speed. On the third pass, Hughes unexpectedly accelerated, allowing the aircraft to lift off for a brief 26 seconds for a mile (1.6 km) at an altitude of 70 feet (21 meters) above the water.

With the war over and a government disinterested in continuing production, it was never to fly again. Hughes repurchased the aircraft for $800,000 and had it hermetically sealed in an enormous, climate-controlled hangar at a cost of $1 million per year, ready to fly at a moment's notice.

Following Hughes's death, the retired Hughes H-4 Hercules airframe was displayed in Long Beach, California, between 1980 and 1992. When the land it was sitting on was sold to Disney, the prototype was put up for sale and transported in pieces by barge and truck to its new home.

Owing to its incredibly short operational life and careful climate-controlled preservation in the years that followed, the Spruce Goose has remained in good condition. Today, visitors can see it at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.

The Spruce Goose's record has since been broken.

The H-4 held the wingspan record until recent years, when the double-Boeing 747 fuselage Stratolaunch took to the skies, channeling the inner spirit of the Spruce Goose. Moreover, when it comes to everyday aviation, the Antonov An-225 ruled when it came to size until it was destroyed in Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

With six engines, the Scaled Composites Model 351 Stratolaunch is a double fuselage unit and has the largest wingspan of any aircraft in history, measuring 117 meters (384 feet). From the Spruce Goose to the Stratolaunch, these juggernauts will always turn heads when spotted.

Related

The Top 10 Largest Planes Ever Made

Let's take a closer look at the giants of aviation.

Posts By Justin Hayward

The H-4 Hercules may not have seen much action, but it's an example of the pioneering nature embedded in the aviation industry. It will be interesting to see what giants the future of aviation has in store.

SF Report

Soar through captivating aviation stories with our newsletter's engaging roundup. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

What are your thoughts about the H4-Hercules? What do you make of the aircraft's overall size? Let us know what you think of the plane and its history in the comment section.

• Aircraft
• History
• North America

Follow Followed Like Share Facebook X WhatsApp Threads Bluesky LinkedIn Reddit Flipboard Copy link Email Close Trending Now

Stored, Not Retired: United Airlines Ferries Another Boeing 777-200 To Victorville

This Airline Had The World’s Largest Widebody Fleet In 2025

Berlin Once Had 4 Airports: Why Only 1 Survives Today