H- 4 Hercules (Spruce Goose)

Howard Hughes is contracted to build the world's largest plane by the US Government

[mitchelvalentino]

Howard Hughes. A great visionary. A great engineer. A great pilot. Thank you for uploading this!

[mikedurant]

I got to sit in the pilot's seat of it. I will never forget the view. I also sat at his desk at Hughes tool company, and when I was young I saw him in person going down Harrisburg Blvd. In a car. Going to Hughes tool company.

[lilbluecrew]

I'm a volunteer docent at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville Oregon. One of my favor jobs is giving tours and doing photos in the cockpit. She's the center of our musume.

[snakefinger]

Mr Hughes will forever be the muthafuckin man. We miss you Howard.

[ZeranZeran]

Howard Hughes life has been one of the most interesting, and inspiring I've read or learned about about in my entire life.
He was a genius in his own way, no one can argue that he didn't think big, on a level that most people couldn't, or wouldn't comprehend. I so wish there were more interviews with him.

His condition in his later years is both horrifying, and relatable, and I haven't even been in a plane crash. I'm not a germaphobe, but I am sick and tired of most people. But that's what lead him to being alone and sad. Gotta keep those connections strong. Weird how something so simple could completely change the trajectory of their life. Keep your loved ones and friends close. RIP Mr. Hughes. Thank you for inspiring me. The Hercules is still amazing to me in 2022.

[miguelsalami]

The Hercules was a monumental undertaking, "I put the sweat of my life into this thing" Howard Hughes

[Jin-Ro]

Hard to believe that it's as big as the A380. It was way ahead of it's time. Hats off to Howard Hughes, a great visionary.

[WW-fnrt]

It's called 'The Hercules!', and it will fly Goddamn it!

[bobloughlin]

Would of been a nightmare to service and keep flying if it was ever put into service, but love how Hughes loved to do everything bigger than life. Goose helped make him a legend.

[davehalst]

Lovely video blighted by the ‘music’ at the end.

[georgeshop]

A great man, backed up by his wonderful machine. Ignorants call him names, dragged him thorough mud but he raised up as a diamond with no spot of dirt on him. He was the living TRUTH and defined himself as TRUTH with his achievements.

[johnfalkenstine]

I remember asking Jack Real why the Spruce Goose didn't have termite issues. He calmly replied that the glue was poisonous, a special ingredient had been added as a precaution.

[buster_brownie]

a true marvel of engineering. i could not imagine staking such a large steak of my reputation on something that if it failed i would leave the country in shame. this man was a true engineer.

[corneliuscrewe]

I saw this behemoth years ago in Long Beach. Glad she’s being taken care of.

[OcelotMorris]

I got to tour the Spruce Goose yesterday, and it was amazing. Having sat in that cockpit, and held those controls. Also, getting to see it from the inside, and understand just how insanely huge that thing is. It changes what watching a documentary is like.

Seeing footage of it flying and landing in water, after having a genuine sense of the scale of it, makes it terrifying to contemplate. I'd still have gone up in it, given the chance.

[u.s.patriot]

Love the Hughes Hercules and Hughes FX-11! Way ahead of their time! Look at/study every line of the design attributes of both Hughes aircraft mentioned and today's "like" aircraft, and you too may see some of the H-4 and XF-11 in their design. So glad he got the Hercules into the air and that there is great footage to share it.

[karlfortuin]

I toured that beautiful amazing plane back in late 70s she was very amazing beautiful piece of modern aircraft at that time & yes Howard Hughes deserves to be in the aviation industry hall of fame thanks for sharing this amazing video 👨‍✈️✈

[yashilghazi]

An amazing man, and an amazing aeroplane. I would have done anything to see her fly again.

[originalfiremancancelled]

America fuc mr. Hughes was a genius and that's a beautiful

[Clint_the_Audio-Photo_Guy]

I sat in the cockpit in the early 80's when it was in the domed exhibit next to the Queen Mary as a kid. My dad took my sister and I there. Didn't know it was only on display for two years. That's a shame. I've got pictures and the memories. Now the Aviator is one of my favorite movies.