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Howard Hughes & his Spruce Goose...
Howard Hughes & his Spruce Goose...
Item # 598696
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August 10, 1947
THE NEW YORK TIMES, New York, August 10, 1947
* Howard Hughes
* H-4 Hercules (Spruce Goose)
* He claims it can fly (1st report)
The front page has one column headlines that include: "HUGHES PROMISES TO EXILE HIMSELF IF BIG PLANE FAILS",
"His Reputation Is Involved and He Will Quit U.S. if Craft Is Useless, He Tells Senators", "Army 'Hatred' Is Alleged"
Also a five column headline on page 3: "Hughes 'Will Exile' Himself if His Giant Plane Fails" with related photo (see photos). Lots of text. Too much to photograph.
Other news, sports and advertisements of the day throughout. Complete in 70+ pages, rag edition in great condition.
wikipedia notes: The H-4 Hercules was originally contracted by the U.S. government for use in World War II, as a viable way to transport troops and equipment across the Atlantic instead of sea-going troop transports that were liable to the threat of German U-Boats. In 1947, it was the largest aircraft ever built, weighing 190 tons and not completed until just after the end of World War II. The Hercules flew only once for a mile (1.6 km) (with Hughes at the controls) on November 2, 1947. The aircraft was nicknamed the "Spruce Goose" by critics. The aircraft was actually made of birch rather than spruce.
The Hercules has the biggest wingspan of any aircraft ever built, at 319 ft, 11 in (97.54 m) (the next largest wingspan is about 30 ft (9 m) shorter), but it is neither the longest nor the heaviest (both of those titles are held by the Antonov An-225). It is the largest flying boat, and the largest aircraft made from wood.[19]
Hughes was summoned to testify before the Senate War Investigating Committee to explain why the aircraft had not been delivered to the United States Army Air Forces during the war, but the committee disbanded without releasing a final report. Because the contract required the aircraft to be built of "non-strategic materials," Hughes built the aircraft largely from birch (rather than aluminum) in his Westchester, California facility to fulfill his contract. The aircraft was moved to McMinnville, Oregon, where it is now part of the Evergreen Aviation Museum.
Category: The 20th Century
No Longer Available
