November 2
SPRUCE GOOSE DAY
The world’s largest and widest plane ever built -- with a wingspan of 319 feet, 11 inches -- made its only flight on this day in 1947. Its pilot, owner, and designer, Howard Hughes, flew the huge, wooden plane over Long Beach Harbor, California at an altitude of 70 feet. The flight lasted just one minute.
Hughes named the plane Hercules; but it was referred to by most as the Spruce Goose. The $25 million, 200-ton, plywood behemoth was more like a boat than a plane. Actually a seaplane, it contributed to warplane research over the next decade.
The Spruce Goose is now in the Evergreen Aviation Museum near McMinville, Oregon.
Those Were the Days, the Today in History service from 440 International
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