The Spruce Goose

The Spruce Goose, officially known as the H-4 Hercules, was a massive cargo-type flying boat designed during World War II by Howard Hughes. Built to transport troops and supplies across the Atlantic, it was incredibly large—longer than a football field—and made mostly of wood. Due to delays and changing wartime needs, it only flew once, in 1947, for about a mile. Despite its limited flight, it remains famous as one of the largest aircraft ever built and a symbol of ambitious engineering and innovation. Today, it’s displayed at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in Oregon.