You really have to give it to Howard
 

I never fully understood the size of the goose but this picture shows it compared to an A380, AN-225, and the 747-800. To think he used wood. My hats off to that man.http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...arison.svg.png

The Spruce Goose only flew once and it wasn't a very long flight, so it doesn't really count as a successful airplane. The AN-225, on the other hand is HUGE. I saw it at IAH a few years ago, and it was hard to comprehend how big that plane is.

The goose did fly it was just underpowered. Put a few modern day engines on it and that bird would be outta here. Pencil and paper put that thing together.

And it did fly, so that's testament enough isn't it? Had modern powerplants been applied to this airframe, it would've had more success I think! Just watch out for termites!!!