Fact Slap 👋 Today in 1947, the Hughes H-4 Hercules (also known as the "Spruce Goose"), the largest fixed-wing aircraft ever built at the time and designed by Howard Hughes makes its maiden and only flight. The Hercules lifted off, remaining airborne for 26 seconds at 70 ft (21 m) off the water at a speed of 135 miles per hour (217 km/h) for about one mile (1.6 km). It’s now on display at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, Oregon. Video: H-4 taxies before taking off, animated by AI, original

The Hughes H-4 Hercules Was An Absolute Mammoth Of An Aircraft | War History Online