This week in 1947, aviation history was made when Howard Hughes piloted the Hughes H-4 Hercules, affectionately known as the "Spruce Goose," on its first and only flight. Despite its name, the aircraft was constructed primarily of wood due to wartime material shortages. The massive flying boat, designed to transport troops and supplies across the Atlantic during World War II, flew just over half a mile at an altitude of 70 feet over Long Beach Harbor. Though it never flew again, the Spruce Goose

#OTD in 1947, the behemoth Hughes H-4 Hercules "Spruce Goose" flying boat made its one and only flight. One of the chase boats was a surplus WWII motor torpedo boat that Hughes later sold to Universal Studios where it was used as PT-73 in the opening credits of “McHale’s Navy”. | U.S. Naval Institute

Today marks 77 years since the Hughes H-4 Hercules, better known as the “Spruce Goose,” took its first and only flight in 1947! The world’s largest flying boat was built primarily with birch wood due to weight concerns and wartime aluminum restrictions. Visit the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museumin McMinnville, Oregon, to experience this historic aircraft in person! #Aviation #Avgeek #FirstFlight #AviationHistory | EAA - The Spirit of Aviation