Did Spruce Goose Ever Fly?

In 1947 Howard Hughes's H-4 Hercules was the largest, heaviest and most expensive plane ever built. Yet aside from a one-mile test flight at 70ft (20m), the Spruce Goose - as it was nicknamed by critics - never flew.

Why did the Spruce Goose never fly?

Despite its successful maiden flight, the Spruce Goose never went into production, primarily because critics alleged that its wooden framework was insufficient to support its weight during long flights. ... Today, the Spruce Goose is housed at the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.

How high and far did the Spruce Goose fly?

With Hughes at the controls, David Grant as co-pilot, and several engineers, crewmen and journalists on board, the Spruce Goose flew just over one mile at an altitude of 70 feet for one minute. The short hop proved to skeptics that the gigantic machine could fly.