In June of 1947, Howard Hughes was finally ready to transport the massive hull and two wing sections of his H-4 Hercules aircraft – aka the Spruce Goose, but don’t call it that when Hughes was around! – from his plant in Culver City (Playa Vista) to Terminal Island in Long Beach. The move took 5 days, needed 2,000 people, and cost $60,000, but finally reached its destination, where it was put back together. The aerial photo we see here shows the aircraft undergoing its final assembly. It would remain there until 1992, when it was disassembled and transported by barge, train, and truck to its current home in McMinnville, Oregon, a journey that took 138 days. (Source: acesflyinghigh.wordpress.com)
During its time in Long Beach, the Spruce Goose was housed in a vast dome. Though the aircraft is long gone, the dome is still there next to the permanently anchored Queen Mary. The dome now serves as the passenger terminal for Carnival Cruises. This satellite image is from 2014.
Between the time Spruce Goose left the dome and Carnival Cruises took it over, Warner Bros. used it as a sound stage. Remember in Batman Forever when the Flying Graysons were performing their circus actually? And the Batmobile driving the “streets” of Gotham City?
Oh wow, I didn’t know that. Thanks, PDQ!
Is it my imagination, or was this plane much bigger than other airplanes at the time? Really amazing. Thanks for sharing, Martin.
It’s not your imagination, Patti. Compared to other aircraft at the time, it was HUGE – especially its wingspan – and is part of the reason why it became so famous.
Thanks, Martin!
I was sorry when we in Southern California lost the Spruce Goose. However, I have been to visit it in McMinnville. It is housed in a very good aviation museum. As you might guess, it is prominently featured there. It has been well cared for which assuaged my concern for its welfare and my sense of loss.
I saw it when it was still in SoCal. We actually were allowed to go inside. It’s a very impressive plane!
Gosh, I thought it was there a year or two after that date. My family visited the Spruce Goose when it was in the dome. It had to have been 1992! We must have been among the last to see if there.