Biggest Ever: The Amazing H-4 Hercules

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It was a cool California November afternoon in 1947 when the HK-4 Hercules, also known as the Spruce Goose, finally flew. It was supposed to be a simple taxi test, nothing more than motoring through the water of Long Beach Harbor to show off its speed and test out the plane in open water. But having endured years of people mocking the project and himself for trying to build a plane so massive it had no hope of flying, Howard Hughes decided to take the opportunity to extend his middle finger at them all in the most poignant way he could.

Sources:

[orcasea]

I worked for H. Hughes' (retired) private secretary when I was in high school, and she would tell me stories about him. The government actually forbade him to fly the aircraft, and with the end of the war he was upset that the people who had worked for so long and so hard on the airplane would never see it fly. So, on that day Hughes' Aircraft was on a company holiday enjoying a big party on the beach. He did the planned high speed taxi tests, and then, just as he was passing the thousands of Hughes employees...Ooops! Up it went, and everyone got to see the object of their hard labor lift up and fly past them in majestic glory

Hughes' was quite a guy.

[paulpurpura]

Simon, I used to work in the jet engine test areas of Pratt & Whitney Aircraft who made the engines for the SR71 Blackbird. When the engines were throttled up to full AB the shock waves were so intense that at the end of the day you felt like you were beaten with a stick. An amazing plane that’s for sure.

[amdreallyfast]

Spent about an hour extracting these values from Wikipedia in response to another comment. There were some big planes introduced prior to the H-4, but when Howard -Stark- Hughes introduced the H-4, it was notably larger than them all (EDIT: except the total power), and as the video showed, had some design differences too (fuel in fuselage, etc.).

length (ft):
- 218.67 Hughes H-4
- 148.00 Saunders-Roe Princess
- 117.25 Martin JRM Mars
- 110.33 Boeing 377 Stratocruiser
- 92.33 Messerschmitt Me 323

wingspan (ft):
- 320.92 Hughes H-4
- 219.50 Saunders-Roe Princess
- 200.00 Martin JRM Mars
- 141.25 Boeing 377 Stratocruiser
- 181.00 Messerschmitt Me 323

height (ft):
- 79.33 Hughes H-4
- 55.75 Saunders-Roe Princess
- 38.42 Martin JRM Mars
- 38.25 Boeing 377 Stratocruiser
- 33.33 Messerschmitt Me 323

weight (empty, lbs):
- 250, 000.00 Hughes H-4
- 190, 000.00 Saunders-Roe Princess
- 83, 500.00 Boeing 377 Stratocruiser
- 75, 500.00 Martin JRM Mars
- 60, 200.00 Messerschmitt Me 323

weight (loaded, lbs):
- 400, 000.00 Hughes H-4
- 345, 000.00 Saunders-Roe Princess
- 165, 000.00 Martin JRM Mars
- 148, 000.00 Boeing 377 Stratocruiser
- 94, 800.00 Messerschmitt Me 323

powerplant:
EDIT: Princess had more power than the H-4 due to being all-metal. That said, the HP/weight ratio is still in the H-4's favor.
- 4x 5000hp + 2x 2500hp = 25, 000hp Saunders-Roe Princess
- 8x 3000hp = 24, 000hp Hughes H-4
- 4x 3500hp = 14, 000hp Boeing 377 Stratocruiser
- 4x 2500hp = 10, 000hp Martin JRM Mars
- 6x 1100hp = 6, 600hp Messerschmitt Me 323

introduced:
- 1936 Douglas DC-3
- Jan 20, 1942 Messerschmitt Me 323
- Jul 08, 1947 Boeing 377 Stratocruiser
- Nov 30, 1943 Martin JRM Mars
- Nov 02, 1947 Hughes H-4
- Aug 22, 1952 Saunders-Roe Princess

[laurenneblett]

Like so many people have already said, the video does not do this plane justice. It is so dang big!
Anyway, this is a fantastic museum. Every Father's Day, they have an event with (almost) all of the people who have piloted the SR-71. Also, this upcoming November, they are getting an F-117! So excited and can't wait to go again

[smy]

Best of the location shot videos yet, this is fantastic.

[keithbecker]

Planes! These are great videos and content I like! Definitely the most fun one so far!

[foadrightnow]

I went to see the Spruce Goose when it was parked next to the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California in the Summer of 1985. Talk about an incredible day! I remember after entering the dome and rounding a curved wall, all of a sudden it seemed that this huge behemoth of a plane was right in front of you! There was no walking up to it from a distance so you could acclimate yourself to the size of it! No, no, no! It felt like it was on top of you! It kinda scared me at first, to be honest. But after a minute or two, fear had turned into excitement! Seeing the Spruce Goose in person should be on everyone's bucket list! I checked off that one decades ago, long before I even heard the term "bucket list"!

[karp]

I liked the "do not sit" sign in the cockpit.

[ToneWalt]

Howard Hughes was such a pioneer in so many ways its hard to believe he ended up as he did.

[douglasmcneil]

The H-4 used to be on display at Long Beach next to the Queen Mary. Took my kids there a few times when they were young. We would also go to the March AFB and Chino Air Shows to see the SR-71 and watch the Thunderbirds Demonstration Team. Now I'm Grandpa and It's Still fun to watch the little ones eyes get big. Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm; reminds me of great family times.

[waychild]

The B-29 was larger than the DC-3, and it was flying long before the Hercules.
Of course the Hercules dwarfed the B-29, however the largest plane at the time was not the DC-3 as the guide in the video states.
The DC-3 has a wingspan of 95 feet, where the B-29 had a wingspan of 141 feet.
 It is a great show Simon ... please do not fault me.
I just happen to be a stickler for accuracy when it comes to misquoting certain aircraft facts.
I happen to be an aircraft enthusiast for over 35 years. I notice these things.
Keep 'em coming! :)

[xulapostasy]

Im from Washington State and have travelled to Oregon a lot. I went to that museum over 10 years ago and saw the famous spruce goose. Good times. Happy to see more local videos in the PNW!!

[tanakaba]

I was expecting a turkey today, but a goose is fine too.

[ashleymarks]

I LOVE your enthusiasm for aviation. You earned major points for geeking out about the SR-71. All the best.

This plane is one of the most wondrous planes I have ever seen. I got to see it a few times when it was housed in Long Beach, next to the Queen Mary. Such a fascinating story. 👍😊

[ShinzouKatsune]

I just love when Simon has is geek out voice going. You can just tell how stupendiously excited he is about these fantastic aircrafts.

[Vypert]

4:35 the sign says do not sit.. what a badass

[k.a.davison]

I saw and went aboard the H-4 in the 1980's when it was on display in Long Beach. It was one of those extraordinary events in a life that you never forget. Then you were given greater freedom to explore; I say that because of noting the plastic panel blocking access towards the tail section. Thanks. A great segment that was respectful of both the craft and its creator.

[PerposterusGossamerPossum]

I would recommend the aviation and space museum. It was super fun when I went there as a kid. They let you go in the Hercules, theres also a bunch of really cool jet engines on display.

[generalhyde]

I really like this. Not just the DC-3 which is one of the oldest commercial planes that is still flying, but the SR-71. That is one of the coolest planes in existence. 2 of my all time favorite planes ever.