The giant wooden plane that flew exactly once

On November 2, 1947, Howard Hughes took the controls of the H-4 Hercules in Long Beach harbor. The flying boat rose about 70 feet above the water and flew roughly one mile at about 135 mph.

It never flew again. Critics called it the "Spruce Goose," but it was built mostly of birch. It is still on display today in McMinnville, Oregon.

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