Howard Hughes, known for his grand schemes, outdid himself when he constructed the largest flying boat ever made during WWII. With its wingspan of 319 feet and length of 318 feet, the Hughes Hercules H-4, or Spruce Goose as it came to be called, was designed as an alternative to troop ships, which were begin devastated by German U-Boats. Built almost entirely of a wood laminate due to wartime steel shortages, the Spruce Goose proved to be less than a successful aircraft; in fact, it flew only once, in 1947 with Hughes himself at the controls.
But as a landmark in aviation history, incorporating the many innovations inspired by and designed by Hughes, the Spruce Goose remains a remarkable achievement.
In 1990 the Evergreen Aviation Museum acquired the Goose from the California Aero Club, and transported it from Long Beach, California to its new home in McMinnville, Oregon (Portland area). There is on display in an architecturally stunning museum/hanger, designed for exhibiting the massive flying boat, along with dozens of other landmarks in the history of aviation.
In this DVD documentary, produced by the staff of the evergreen Museum, distinguished Oregon Senator Mark O. Hatfield provides the narration, relating the development, construction and final installation of the Spruce Goose in its new home.
