Hughes H-4 Hercules prototype

The Hughes H-4 Hercules was a large experimental flying boat built by the Curtiss-Wright company under Hughes’ direction. Made primarily of wood to reduce weight, it was designed during the 1940s to carry large cargo and passengers across oceans. Often called the "Spruce Goose," it only flew once in 1947 for about a mile, because its enormous size and weight made sustained flight difficult. Its main purpose was to explore heavy-lift airship technology, but it remains famous as a remarkable engineering achievement and a symbol of innovation in aviation history.