The Hughes Flying Boat

Fast Facts:

• designated the H-4

• called the Spruce Goose

• it was designed and built by Howard Hughes

• it was built to transport cargo and avoid the threat of submarines

• airframe made from laminated wood

• fabric covered all but the control areas

• it had 8 engines

• people could not understand why such a large aircraft was being built

• November 2, 1947, Howard Hughes flew it once in a short test flight

• the aircraft was put into storage until 1976