"Spruce Goose" by claudialee
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Description
The Spruce Goose
"I'll build a plane." the richman did shout
"I'll build it so big, it will knock their eyes out."
"I'll build it so long and I'll build it so high."
"That just won't work" they said, "It never will fly."
And so he planned and started a search
"I know" he said, "I'll build it out of Birch."
When the plane was built, they all came to a truce,
May I now present what they named "THE SPRUCE GOOSE."
clm
Howard Hughes had an internationa reputation as an oil and businessman, movie producer. aeronautical engineer and world-class aviator. with the partnership of Henry Kaiser,a team of engineers designed a single hull flying boat capable of carrying 750 troops. The plans called for eight 3,000 horsepower engines, a mamoth fuel stroage and supply system, and wings 20 feet longer than a football field. They called the prototype aircraft the HK-1.
The Hughes team constructed the Flying Boat out of wood. Huges perfected a process called "Duramold" to create almost every part of the plane. The Duramold process is a plywood-like series of thin wood laminations, with grains laid perpendicular to each other. Workers
permeating the laminations with plastic glue, they shaped and heated the pieces until cured. The result is a material that many engineers agree is both lighter and stronger than aluminum.
On November 2, 1947, With Hughes at the controls, the giant Flying Boat glided smoothly across a three-milestretch of harbor. During the third taxi test Hughes lowered the wing flaps to 15 degrees and the seaplane lifted off of the water. It flew a little over a mile at an altitude of 70 feet for approximately one minute and proved to skeptics that the gigantic craft could fly.
Cargo Aircraft Prototype:
Wingspan: 319 feet, 11 inches with a wing area that covers 11,430 feet.
Tallest aircraft: 79 feet 3 3/8 inches
Power: Eight Pratt & Whitney R-4360. 3,000 horsepower engins
Propellers: Eight, 17 feet, 2 inch diameter
Weight,Empty: 300.000 pounds
Weight,Loaded: 400,000 pounds (maximum take-off weight)
Cruise Speed: 141 to 150 mph at 5,000 feet
Top speed: 227 tp 231 mph at 5,000 feet
Range: 2,975 miles with 12,500 gallons of fuel
Courtesy of the Evergreen Aviation Museum,
McMinnville, Oregon.
I hope that this has been an informative and pleasant visti for all. Wish that you could have been with me, it would have made the trip to the Museum much for enjoyable. HUGS!!!
Comments (16)
chuter
And the horizontal stabilizer is larger than the wing of a B-17. Nice group of pictures although they really do have it packed in there.
goodoleboy
Nice shots of this grand behemoth, ClaudiaLee! This was one awesome mother ship! I visited it when it was stationed in Long Beach harbor some years back. If you check the comments in your last Titan II posting I did mention it might be the Goose. Incidentally, Howard Hughes hated the nickname, Spruce Goose. To see a reprise of its one and only flight back in 1947, rent out the "AVIATOR" DVD, starring Leonard Di Caprio in the role of Howard Hughes.
erskogly
Thanks for the opportunity to have a look at this one of a kind giant. Its wingspan is actually a massive 30 meters wider than a 747-800 (the largest Jumbo) - although, to be fair, the Jumbo has swept wings - so the comparison isn't really as straightforward as that. But still - a massive aircraft which must have been a tremendous achievement in 1947.
marybelgium
wonderful and interesting collage !
Zacko
Howard Hughes? AAAAAAH!!!!! You just reminded me of something!!! I still havent see "The Aviator"...SHAME ON MEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! #:o) What i love most about these shots are the light. The shadows those windows casts make all the difference here. Wonderful work Claudia. Hope you get to have a wonderful weekend. #:o)
Valerie-Ducom
wowwwwwwwwww, fantastic picture my friend and very good composition!!! I hope you have a very good day... hugsss :D
babuci
Very good collage and thanks for an info!
Biffowitz
Holy cow, that thing is HUGE, the museum does seem to do it justice, fabulous setting, wonderful lighting. Thanks for the info, and great shots!!
jocko500
rea; cool work
Richardphotos
I was wondering about the large plane next to the missle.I did not want to say spruce goose because I had no idea where it was located. excellent captures and yes I have enjoyed much your text info
rayburg
Nice collage of an amazing aircraft. Where is it kept? thanks for sharing this with us.
Hendesse
Fantastic collage of interesting shots. Thanks for the informations too. Excellent work. I wish you a wonderful weekend!!!
Garlor
Very good montage thanks,I have loved aviation for many years and you add to my knowledge. I now have made a job where I fly, drop in to www.scotaviaimages.co.uk
smittan
that is one BIG airplane, great shots !!
Buffalo1
She's a beauty and you have good captures of the Hercules and some friends, too! I took a few pics of HK-1 in the 1980s when she was parked in Long Beach next to the Queen Mary. There wasn't any natural daylight to highlight this wonderful plane in Long Beach. The dome hangar was actually rather dark. Hughes might have been a looney, but he wasn't afraid to take chances with aviation design.
Cosme..D..Churruca
So impressive... excellent !