HOWARD HUGHES AND HIS H-4 HERCULES, "THE SPRUCE GOOSE" - An Incredible Engineering Achievement!
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- čas přidán 8. 10. 2023
- The amazing story of the world's largest airplane in 1947 and its one-and-only flight. Incidentally, the H-4 was built out of Birch, not Spruce!
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In the early 1980’s I went to Los Angeles with my wife for a few days. She went there for her job and on a Sunday afternoon I told her about Howard Hughes and the Spruce Goose which was sitting over in the harbor not yet setup for display. When we got there I talked to a couple people there and explained to them that I was a pilot and told them what I knew about Mr. Hughes and they offered to show us around. We had about a 45 minute tour. Absolutely amazing experience for me and my wife. I stood behind the engines in the right wing, sat in the cockpit where Howard sat and walked the entire fuselage. An amazing life experience for me which I will never forget.
Howard Hughes was a superstar before we had superstars. What a spectacular life he led!!!
I'm 70 and in the late 1970's I took the tour of the plane and walked on the wing. You have no idea how awesome that plane was 😎.
I see this plane every morning on the way to work…
Thanks for this excellent video! I was just at the Evergreen Museum (Oct. 13, 2023) and paid the extra $40 to tour the cockpit...you actually get to sit in the pilot's seat (and wear a Hughes fedora)! First time I visited this museum 20 years ago I was unaware that the Goose was there...I walk in and see this giant aircraft and slowly realize what it was. Tremendous! Thanks again for this awesome video.
It was Joe Flynn, not Phil Silvers, on McHale’s Navy. A trivial detail in the midst of the great content. I’m sure many of us have seen some of the images you presented, but you showed many, many more than I’ve ever seen. Thanks, Mike!
My great Uncle, Glenn Odekirk (Ode'), worked closely with Howard Hughes on all his projects, including the Hercules. I have several wood laminated structural test profiles my uncle engineered. Great video.
Hughes knew exactly what he was doing when he extended the flaps. He just had to see it fly. Another excellent presentation…
Can you imagine the H-4 (and XF-11 and XF-12) with turboprops!?
My father was an A&P in training at Long Beach and got to see the Goose on it’s one and only flight. He was employed by Bonanza Airlines which eventually became Hughes Airwest. Always loved seeing the flying banana!
Thanks for the shout out Mike.
I've seen the plane twice at the museum in Oregon. Wondrous sight.Even with the fuselage lower than the floor, the wing pontoons are still at least 15 feet off the floor.
Fascinating history of the Spruce Goose👍. So much I never knew. Gotta give Hughes credit for having far-fetched dreams he could pursue!
Great video Mike. My dad was an engineer on the HK-1 from late 1945 until 1960 (yes, Howard Hughes continued development on the plane at least that long). Dad was supposed to be on-board the day of the flight, but was up late the night before, making preparations for the taxi tests, and was told to get some rest. Touring the plane with him in McMinnville was a treasured memory. He would have enjoyed your video.
So pleased you made the episode Mike. ❤ Amazing photos and the story details I never before knew. It is very nice to hear a true recount on this planes development. So much more than the over simplified version that persists such as Hughe's folly. What a remarkable individual he was! Incredible accomplishments from all the people in the various Hughes organizations.
What a GORGEOUS daughter! Awesome content!
Great video. Two small quibbles: Hughes died flying back in extremis from Acapulco to Houston for medical treatment. He may have died in Mexico, but was reported to expire in US airspace. Second, the power to weight ratio was such that the plane was grossly underpowered. Mushing along in ground effect may have been the closest to flying it was capable of doing. A flight around Long Beach would never have happened. It was said Hughes of scared of the plane, but so tied to his ego that he spent millions storing the aircraft for the next 30 years.
His drill bit company called the Baker Hughes try cone was one of the best bits made. They were not the cheapest but one of the best.
The Hughes Goose is in the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville Oregon. I would suggest everyone go to that museum for the variety of aircraft and spacecraft on display there.
I worked for Hughes Aircraft for most of my aerospace career, and some of my co-workers had worked on that aircraft. I was told that engine tests on the HK-1 were done monthly right up until Howard died.