Hughes H-4 Hercules, Airplane prototype at Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon, United States
The Hughes H-4 Hercules is an experimental transport aircraft built during World War II, distinguished by its massive size and construction using birch and spruce wood. The plane features eight propeller engines and a wingspan of approximately 98 meters, making it the largest wooden aircraft ever built.
Howard Hughes developed this aircraft at the request of the American War Department as a solution for cargo transport across the Atlantic during World War II. The machine was intended as an alternative to conventional metal aircraft but could not be completed until after the war ended.
The aircraft represents a pivotal moment in American aviation, showing how engineers pursued bold solutions during wartime pressures. Visitors can observe how this machine pushed the limits of wooden aircraft construction.
The museum preserves the aircraft in climate-controlled conditions and offers guided tours explaining its technical history. Visitors should allow adequate time to appreciate the size and construction details up close.
The aircraft took flight on November 2, 1947, in its only flight, remaining airborne for less than a minute while rising just 21 meters above Long Beach Harbor. This brief moment would remain its only flight experience in history.
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