Spruce Goose - Hughes H-4 Hercules

During World War II, Howard Hughes designed a huge airplane made almost entirely of laminated birchwood. Because of its size, the Hughes H-4 Hercules (dubbed the "Spruce Goose" - a description Howard despised) could carry huge payloads and transport up to 700 troops. His "flying boat," however, was not the first - as this historical footage reveals.

This Universal newsreel, from the U.S. National Archives, shows the plane under construction. It only flew once - on the 2nd of November, 1947 - under the command of Hughes himself. Flying 70 feet (21 m) above water, at a speed of 135 mph (217 km/h or 117 knots), Howard kept his seaplane aloft for about one mile (1.6 km).

Move the video forward, to about 0:56, to view historical footage of the H-4.

See, also:

Howard Hughes - Aviation Pioneer, Part 1

Howard Hughes - Aviation Pioneer, Part 2