The thing is truely huge. You must see it in person to truely appreciate its size.

It's one of those things you don't appreciate till you actually see it in person. I can't belive it ever got off the ground/water. You don't notice the hieght of this thing until you are standing next to it.

Non-pilot here, but I've been in this amazing aircraft. It's in the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon, about 50 miles SSW of Potland. The museum has many, many more unique and spectacular air (and space) craft.

Like the SR-71 right next to it. I paid the $50 to tour the cockpit very cool.

When the "Spruce Goose" was located in Long Beach next to the Quenn Mary one of our Maint. personnel did a good deal of work on it and I got to take a tour beyond what most everyone gets to see. And believe me, it is even more impressive when you consider when it was built, how it was built and the airframe proper had NO strategic materials used! And remember, as a flying boat this thing had to make the transistion from watercraft to aircraft back to water craft for every flight. Remarkable!
Howard was probably right to tell the government to stick it in their ear. Wonder what the fuel consumption numbers would have been with all eight of the 'Corn Cobs' spinning??????

I have to say I was more impressed with this plane than any other I have ever seen. I've been to many different air shows civilian and military. Seen a wide range or planes and their working systems and I have never been more impressed than I was with the Hercules. Take into consideration when it was built and the technology that was available then and it truely is a marvel. The way everything is laid out was unbelieveble. These people that put this thing together were true craftsmen. You simply don't see that kind of work anymore. If anyone ever has so much as a single thought of wanting to see this thing. DO IT!!! I look forward to seeing her again.

I toured the Evergreen museum last summer. Well worth the trip.

That is one BIG airplane! Didn't realize the size until seeing it over the "little" planes next to it.

Mike

What was the story behind the building Spruce Goose?? What was it actually meant for?

Personally, I've always thought of it as a massive white elephant as there is no way it could have been used operationally for anything...