Flashback Friday - Nov. 2nd 1947 The Spruce Goose, First And Last Flight

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This one holds a special place in my heart since I have walked through the Spruce Goose in the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.  It was an amazing experience and fun to see.

Spruce Goose Nov.2 1947 Flight

Howard Hughes

Howard Hughes was quite the character, but it was that character that led him to try something pretty nuts and very fascinating!  The Spruce Goose is the largest aircraft ever built.  It's wingspan is longer than a football field (320 ft)!  So what is so crazy about this plane?  Well it was made out of wood, Laminated Birch and Spruce to be precise.  Even more it was a plane that could take off and land on water, hence the name the "Spruce Goose".

So why make this thing out of wood?  Well during wartime steel was all but available since it was used to produce weapons and machines for war.  So Hughes decided to try to make it out of wood.  So he framed it out of wood and laminated it with plastic and fabric.  It was designed to carry 700 men and/or supplies to battle.  It was powered by 8 prop engines four on each wing.


On Nov. 2, 1947, Hughes attempted to fly this beast from the Long Beach Harbor in CA.  Thousands of onlookers came out to watch the spectacle. He was able to get it 70 ft in the air and fly for 1 mile before successfully landing the massive goose... lol

In 2004 a movie was made about the Spruce Goose staring Leonardo DiCaprio. It highlights Hughes life and the famous flight of the Spruce Goose.

Here is a cool Youtube video that shows the real footage side by side with the movie.  Pretty interesting!


Even though it had a successful flight, the Spruce Goose never saw production.  Many feared the wood construction would not hold up over long flights.  Hughes however kept the goose in a special hanger with climate control from 1947 to until his death in 1976 at a cost of $1 million per year.  Now that is just crazy!  But hey the things we will do for our babies right!?

If you are ever in McMinnville OR, I highly recommend to go and check this thing out.  You can go on a tour and walk through it.  Well worth your time!

#RookieGuru
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