Howard Hughes' legacy in aviation highlighted by the Spruce Goose's historic flight

Howard Hughes, born on December 24, 1905, was a significant figure in aviation and film. He inherited his family's wealth and invested in Hollywood while pursuing his passion for flying. Hughes set multiple speed records and designed innovative aircraft, including the Hughes H-1 Racer. During World War II, Hughes shifted focus to defense contracting, founding Hughes Helicopters and later the Hughes Aerospace Group. His company produced notable helicopters like the AH-64 Apache. Hughes also built the H-4 Hercules, known as the Spruce Goose, which was designed as a large troop transport. The Spruce Goose, made entirely of wood, flew only once on November 2, 1947. It remains a symbol of Hughes' engineering achievements. Despite its limited flight history, it is recognized as one of the largest flying machines ever created.