How Howard Hughes built the largest aircraft in history from wood

Forest goose, dude, flying boat - as soon as this plane was not called. It was built for 5 years, and it made one single flight. 13 million were allocated for its creation, and he did not pay back this money a cent.

At the beginning of World War II, the ships of the Allies began to be attacked by German submarines. The United States suffered catastrophic losses, it was necessary to increase the number of military fleet at times to escort cargo ships. In parallel, other transport projects were being developed. It seemed logical to try the airways, but the carrying capacity of aircraft in those days was low.

In 1942, the government commissioned Hughes Aircraft to develop an amphibious aircraft.

The order was for the construction of a cargo-passenger aircraft without the cost of strategically needed raw materials, that is, not of aluminum, but of wood!

It was originally built by Henry J. Kaiser and Howard Hughes. But in 1944, due to disagreements, Henry J. Kaiser left the project.

The flying boat was the largest aircraft at that time. The dimensions are really impressive: 66 meters in length, height - more than 24 meters, weight - 136 tons.

The wingspan is 98 meters, which is more than the wingspan of modern aircraft of the same class.

It was estimated that the aircraft could carry about 700 people.

The crew on such a huge plane was supposed to be very modest - 3 pilots.

After the war ended, government interest in the plane disappeared, and Howard Hughes had to finish building it with his own money.

He was so keen on construction that he invested another 18 million of his own money and brought the aircraft to perfection.

In 1947, in the presence of journalists, the plane made several circles on the water, took to the air and flew in a straight line, making a smooth descent.

At the helm was the creator of the aircraft.

After that, the aircraft was placed in a hangar, and it stood there until it turned from an unnecessary object into a cultural value.

In 1992, the plane was transported to the Evergreen Aviation Museum in Oregon.

So much effort, time, money was invested in this plane. It would seem that labor was useless! But partly it was a step into the future, a technical revolution in engineering, a demonstration of the capabilities of airborne technology.

The prototype of the aircraft was used in the film "Aviator" with Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role.

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