Hughes H-4 Hercules (Spruce Goose) Heavy Lift Transport Flying Boat (1945)
The Spruce Goose was the largest aircraft ever design and produced, flying only once.
The H-4 became the world's largest aircraft and largest flying boat ever designed and produced. Power came from no fewer than eight Pratt & Whitney brand engines mounted on a high monoplane wing assembly that were each the length of a B-29 Superfortress. The "Spruce Goose" was designed to carry a full compliment of 700 troops or 2 Sherman-class battle tanks. Endurance of the aircraft was estimated to be about 20.9 hours of operational flight time.
The initial concept was drawn up by Henry Kaiser while the direct design was generated by engineer Glenn Odekirk. Howard Hughes merely oversaw the project's design progression and piloted the aircraft on the maiden voyage. Though commonly belittled with the name of "Spruce Goose", the all-wood aircraft was actually constructed of birch due to shortages of wartime metals. The one and only existing prototype/production aircraft can be seen at the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon, in the United States of America.
To this day, the H-4 still maintains one of the largest - if not the largest - wingspans of any aircraft ever built, let alone considered for production. This record includes even the American Boeing 747 and the Russian An-225 Mriya. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
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Specifications for the
Hughes H-4 Hercules (Spruce Goose)
Heavy Lift Transport Flying Boat
Country of Origin: United States
Manufacturer: Hughes Aircraft - USA
Initial Year of Service: 1945
Production: 1
Focus Model: Hughes H-4 Hercules
Crew: 3
Length: 218.67ft (66.65m)
Width: 320.01ft (97.54m)
Height: 79.33ft (24.18m)
Weight (Empty): 0lbs (0kg)
Weight (MTOW): 396,832lbs (180,000kg)
Powerplant: 8 x Pratt & Whitney 28 cylinder R-4360 propeller engines delivering 3,000 hp each.
Maximum Speed: 199mph (320kmh; 173kts)
Maximum Range: 2,983miles (4,800km)
Service Ceiling: 20,899ft (6,370m; 4.0miles)
Rate-of-Climb: 1,000 feet per minute (305m/min)
Hardpoints: 0
Armament Suite:
None.
Variants:
HK-1 - Original Design Designation that reflects the collaborative efforts of design and concept from Henry Kaiser and Howard Hughes ("HK").
H-4 - Base Designation with the wihtdrawal of Henry Kaiser from the project.
HFB-1 - Another designation attributed as a recognition of "Hughes Flying Boat - First Design".
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