71 Years ago today......

[dad911]

The 'Spruce Goose' flew for the first (and last) time.....

https://www.evergreenmuseum.org/the-spruce-goose

[911Ghia]

on my bucket list, to stand in the 'Spruce Goose'. Name infuriated Howard as it contained no spruce.

Rich

[fanaudical]

It's a great museum, but some of the cooler exhibits (like the P-38 and B-17) have left for other locations as part of some financial trouble. It's probably best to go visit sooner rather than later.

https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2016/december/01/spruce-goose-dominates-oregon-museum

Hughes HK-1 Spruce Goose Flying Boat Aircraft Pilot Operating Manual - Aircraft Reports - Aircraft Manuals - Aircraft Helicopter Engines Propellers Blueprints Publications

[oldE]

Originally Posted by 911Ghia

on my bucket list, to stand in the 'Spruce Goose'. Name infuriated Howard as it contained no spruce.

Rich

He probably wouldn't have liked it any better if it had been dubbed "Birch B!tch" by the press.

Best
Les

[pavulon]

Half-stumbled upon this museum about 10 years ago. It was a borderline religious experience if you're a wingnut. Unfortunately, the rest of my family was totally meh. Had similar experiences at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay and the Udvar-Hazy and Road America and EAA and...

The price of being born a free-range nerd, I suppose.

[Zeke]

I'be been in Long Beach most of my life and born here. I was only 2 when it flew and was put away. But I was here when they finally opened the doors to the water side hanger some time after Hughes' death. Then they built a huge dome to house the thing and I went there, climbed the stairs and visited the tiny cockpit. The enormous size of the plane is fully appreciated as you walk under the the wings near the 8 engines. The wings cover more area than a lot of parking structures (width wise anyway).

And of course, it's wood. Not painted wood either. I'd see it again if I was in OR.

Not surprised about the money situation. Didn't make it on its own here. We use the dome for ocean cruise liner terminals and sometimes exhibits plus filming.

It takes a lot more 'amusement' these days to make an amusement/museum venue. The Queen Mary has never made a profit but it's a fabulous place to go — once.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Zeke

It takes a lot more 'amusement' these days to make an amusement/museum venue. The Queen Mary has never made a profit but it's a fabulous place to go — once.

There it is: "Once" is not the foundation of a business plan.

I have visited the Goose. I was delighted I did so. Once.

[URY914]

[scottmandue]

I visited the goose when it was in the dome at Long Beach, inside the cargo bay is enormous, looks like you could play a game of football in there.

Queen Mary is a good venue for a big party, wedding or such.

A bazillon years ago my best friend was a waiter at the coffee shop. When he needed a ride home he would call me, I would pick up his wife and we would run over to the Queen. Being a waiter he had access to soup, salad, and bread so dinner would be all you could eat soup, salad, and bread. Back then security was pretty lax and they left several doors unlocked... of course he knew where those doors were so we did some poking around below deck... it was kinda creepy... he swore the ship was haunted but he also said the house I'm living in is haunted and have never seen anything unusual.

[URY914]