Spruce Goose Narrated Tour in 4k | H-4 Hercules

This is a narrated tour in and around the H-4 Hercules (Spruce Goose)...Howard Hughes's flying boat. It is the largest amphibian aircraft, and the largest wooden aircraft ever built. And for 72 years up until 2019, it had the largest wingspan of any aircraft. It truly is a marvel of engineering and a beast of a machine. The first and very last time it ever flew was on November 2nd, 1947 when Howard Hughes shocked the world by unveiling the gargantuan airship that the press had scoffed by saying it could never fly...they even nicknamed it "The Spruce Goose", despite the fact that it was made of Birch wood. Be sure to visit the H-4 Hercules at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, in McMinnville, Oregon, USA. They are wonderful people and the docents are very knowledgeable about the aircraft and spacecraft/machinery.

Check out my mini-documentary about the history of the H-4 Hercules!

#SpruceGoose #history #travel

MUSIC:
"Scott Buckley - Adrift Among Infinite Stars" is is under a Creative Commons (CC BY 3.0) license.

"Arthur Vyncke - Sunny Winter Day" is under a Creative Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) license.

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DISCLAIMER: I am not a University-educated historian, Alex the Historian was a nickname I got while working at Disneyland as a tour guide. After 6 years of using it as a stage name for my channel, it would be detrimental to the channel to suddenly change the name.

[NorseNerdleMeister]

My father told me that he had met the gentleman who was in the co-pilot seat during the planes only flight (can’t recall the name). He said that it was shaking and creaking so hard that it seemed like a catastrophic structural failure was imminent, but that never phased Howard. I know nothing about how planes behave, so maybe it would have smoothed out eventually? Must have been quite an experience! I can still remember when the plane was in Long Beach painted white and they had a multi-colored light show as well as a pool of water under it. For a young kid, it was so awe-inspiring to see that display, but when I visited the Evergreen Museum back in 2016 as an adult, that sense of awe was not diminished, so glad it’s been preserved!

[riparianlife]

When I was there the day after "The Aviator" opened in theaters, the B-19 in the corner had an old man sitting in front of it who personally flew that plane over Berlin. He'd be long gone now. The Spruce Goose is quite a spectacle.

[pookiesmoochie]

So cool! Can’t wait for the documentary. It’s so large it’s almost hard to believe it’s made of wood and so well preserved.

[NYWF]

Alex: I am unsure without reading through the comments, but you definitely picked a good time to start covering the Hercules H-4; the 75th Anniversary of the one and only flight it made is coming up on November 2. I have been fascinated by this amazing flying boat/plane all the way back to my early teenage years. I am very happy that Howard Hughes preserved the Hercules H-4 so that we still have it in 2022! At one time Hughes had 300 full time people on the payroll just to maintain and care for the H-4 after that one and only flight, and that went on for many years! In spite of Howard Hughes' eccentricities, he truly cared for the H-4 in a way none of us could ever understand. Thank you, and please keep up the great work!

[ronaldmiller]

CHEERS ALEX, , I WAS HOPING YOU WERE DOING FINE IT WAS QUIET THIS WEEK FOR VIDEOS.. GREAT VIDEO!!! THE OLD VIDEO I DID SEE IN HISTORY, ,IT WAS GREAT.. I AM SO GLAD THE HERCULES IS IN A DIFFERNT HOME SHE JUST DIDNT LOOK GOOD YEARS LATER, , NOW SHES WITH OLD WAR PLANES TO KEEP HER COMPANY, .. HISTORY LIVES ON WITH THE VETERAN TROOPS, ,.. INCLUDES MY SELF.. RIP MR. HUGHES YOU SHOWED THEM ALL YOUR GREAT PLANS FOR OUR HISTORY TODAY..

[AviatorsTandR]

The Spruce Goose is an incredible artifact preservation, and is a symbol of great magnificence in history! Thank you for this tour, I enjoyed!

[ginog]

Simply beautiful and a wonder of engineering, I miss it from LB...

[jetsons]

I saw the H-4 in long Beach, your right---it huge. Just think of a "Tune-Up, " they're 224 cylinders with 2 spark plugs per cylinder---that 448 spark plugs to And don't forget the valve adjustments, that's 448 valves to adjust. Thanks Alex for posting, just wished it was a longer

[chaseman]

For a Coastal state. Oregon may not have a Museum Battleship or Aircraft Carrier, but I’m terribly proud as an Oregonian that we managed to get the Spruce Goose.

[Tryingtohaveityall]

Went to this museum years ago. That plane is awe inspiring. You just can’t fathom how big it is until you see it in person.

[LakeNipissing]

*Excellent presentation.* I only ever saw this in 1983 at the dome next to the Queen Mary.

[markhooper]

Great video thank you Alex. I remember touring the H-4 when she was in the dome adjacent to the QM at Long Beach back in the 80s. I must get those photos out again some time :)

[lindasolis]

Thanks so much! I especially loved seeing the inside. So fascinating! Looking forward to the next documentary 😀

[docjc]

I cannot get enough of your narrated tours! You. Are. So. Talented! Only wish they were longer. I know you are bound by the algorithm I'm just whining because I like them so much.

[centralpacificexplorer]

I hope you make a full on historical documentary about this legendary aircraft

[ronaldmiller]

Hi Alex, , Again great 👍 Video 🎥 Wonderful...we love plane ✈️🛬🌐 S .. 🥂

[ExpeditionSteve]

I smell the old! LOL!!! I forgot about that! Great video as always Alex! Such a cool place! Had a great time with you and Kris there....we need to go again so we can see the space museum! lol

[mrs]

I've waited so long for this video from you and it was well worth the wait tyvm

[katiekendrick]

I remember seeing your live when you were there! Very cool!

[bertchiu]

BRILLIANT video ALEX … thanks SO MUCH!!! 🤩