Weatherday: The Spruce Goose

A cool and blustery day is forecast. Heavy showers, especially midday to late afternoon.

Some sunny spells possible, moderate to fresh westerly winds. Highest temperature 8deg.

On this day in 1947, aircraft designer Howard Hughes flew his prototype eight-engined 'Spruce Goose' wooden flying boat for the first and only time, a distance of one mile. Properly named the H-4 Hercules, it retained its record as the longest wingspan plane flown, for 71 years until last year when the Stratolaunch space launch carrier prototype was test-flown. 

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy