McMinnville Flight Museum, Part II

Besides the huge building that houses the Spruce Goose, their are 2 other buildings, dedicated to

1)  History of Planes

The entrance to the History of War Planes, and heroes,  The last 2 buildings housed the Astronaut

memorabilia , and the History of War Planes, and development of early flight.  I have intermingled 

the pictures from both buildings.

Astronaut suited up in his space vehicle

The 1st building was the displays of both War planes, up to Space memorabilia.  2nd was Spurce goose, and the 3rd was the theater.  

An actual space suit used by the astronauts

A training capsule used by the Astronauts 

Blackbird SR 71 in as much of its entirety that I could get.  This reconnaissance plane was designed in the 1950's and would still be the most advanced spy plane in the present time if it had not been discontinued!

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Part of tbe Blackbird, SR 71

 Sikorsky war helicopter c the time of the Korean war, and Viet Nam.  Although I have many more picture from McMinnville, I think this is plenty.  I was so excited about these planes, that I got carried away!               PS. a Drone.

Spruce Goose and I

I always imagined the Spruce as a boxy, wooden plane.  Sort of a massive, enclosed soap box with wings.   Much to my amazement. it was sleek, and shiny, the largest plane to ever fly.  And it was in 1947.

                                         Me in front of the Spruce Goose

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The Spruce Goose In it's entirety

The Spruce Goose was actually a slang term penned by the press.  The plane was really the Hughes H-4 Hercules and was designed and partially funded by Howard Hughes.  In 1942 when the War 

Department needed to transport men and material to Britain  to aid in the war effort.  The original design for this gigantic H4 Hercules plane  was created by Henry J Kaiser, and, with help from Howard Hughes. formed the Hughes-Kaiser partnership.  Long after Kaiser and then the Senate left the project, Hughes continued to finish the H-4 Hercules with his own funds. Designed to float, also, Hughes built a huge hangar, and the massive plane had its maiden voyage taxied through the,harbor and flew 70 feet above the water, and went 135  mph, remaining airborne for 1 mi, 2 years after war ended!