Today in History

November 02, 1947
The Spruce Goose
Billionaire Howard Hughes‘ flies his $25 million "Flying Boat" for the first and only time for a mile over Long Beach Harbor in California. The "Spruce Goose," as it is nicknamed by the media, is six times larger than any other aircraft of its time. Originally developed to fly troops and equipment across the Atlantic to avoid German submarines, the "Spruce Goose" is grounded by cost overruns and war's end. The plane is made primarily of birch.



Today's Feature History Article

Howard Hughes

A silver speedster from the 1930s evokes the golden age of flight, a pair of world-class speed records and the early triumphs of Howard Hughes' ultimately tragic life




 



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