Specifications
Year: 1945
Status: Retired, Out-of-Service
Manufacturer(s): Hughes Aircraft - USA
Production: 1
Capabilities: Navy/Maritime; Transport; X-Plane;
Status: Retired, Out-of-Service
Manufacturer(s): Hughes Aircraft - USA
Production: 1
Capabilities: Navy/Maritime; Transport; X-Plane;
Crew: 3
Length: 218.67 ft (66.65 m)
Width: 320.01 ft (97.54 m)
Height: 79.33 ft (24.18 m)
Weight (MTOW): 396,832 lb (180,000 kg)
Length: 218.67 ft (66.65 m)
Width: 320.01 ft (97.54 m)
Height: 79.33 ft (24.18 m)
Weight (MTOW): 396,832 lb (180,000 kg)
Power: 8 x Pratt & Whitney 28-cylinder R-4360 propeller engines developing 3,000 horsepower each.
Speed: 199 mph (320 kph; 173 kts)
Ceiling: 20,899 feet (6,370 m; 3.96 miles)
Range: 2,983 miles (4,800 km; 2,592 nm)
Rate-of-Climb: 1,000 ft/min (305 m/min)
Ceiling: 20,899 feet (6,370 m; 3.96 miles)
Range: 2,983 miles (4,800 km; 2,592 nm)
Rate-of-Climb: 1,000 ft/min (305 m/min)
Operators: United States (cancelled)
Despite the seemingly promising nature of the H-4 design, it simply arrived too late in the war to serve much of a purpose, additionally adding to the image of the project as a complete failure for Hughes. The H-4 also suffered from the defense spending drawn down once the war had officially come to a close - many projects were either suspended indefinitely or cancelled outright. Hughes was then forced to appear before a Senate committee to answer for government funds spent on his H-4.
Upon its completion, the H-4 became the world's largest aircraft and largest flying boat ever designed and produced to that point. Power was served through 8 x Pratt & Whitney R-4360 28-cylinder engines developing 3,000 horsepower each. Four engines were fitted to a wing. Each wing was high-mounted in its installation and straight in its general design with the engine nacelles fitted at the leading edges. Each wing itself was the full wingspan of just one competing Boeing B-29 "Superfortress" four-engined heavy bomber. To demonstrate the internal carrying capacity of the H-4, the hold could service up to 700 combat infantry or two M4 Sherman Medium Tanks. Endurance of the aircraft was estimated to be approximately 21 hours of flight time. Its flying boat qualities - aided by its boat-like hull and outboard-mounted pontoon legs - allowed the H-4 to take-off and land from just about any water source. Additionally, the aircraft was constructed of wood (birch) which helped buoyancy and would not require heavy use of metals in its construction (metal proving a critical wartime resource). The wood approach was also spanned into another Hughes wartime project - the D-2 heavy fighter (detailed elsewhere on this site). The "Spruce Goose" ridicule is related to the product's heavy use of wood in its construction.
The initial H-4 concept was drawn up by Henry Kaiser while the direct design was put together by engineer Glenn Odekirk. Howard Hughes served as the project's overseer and would be the hands at the controls during her one and only flight. The one and only prototype was saved in the post-war draw down and can be seen in its full glory at the Evergreen Aviation Museum of McMinnville, Oregon, USA.
As much as aviation technology has advanced to this day (November 2013), the Hughes H-4 Hercules still maintains the largest wingspan of any aircraft ever built, let alone considered for production. This claim to fame includes even the mammoth American Boeing 747 and the Soviet/Russian An-225 Mriya offerings. Additionally, no other flying boat design has bested her dimensions.
Armament
None.
Variants / Models
• 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".
