Off Topic - Spruce Goose

We have all seen the film of the Spruce Goose lifting off the water for a

My father was the lead structural engineer for the Goose fues. analysis. He
and two others designed all the frames and other parts you see in the big hull.
He was employed at Hughes 1939-44, employee number 60 (I think) an Structural
Aero Engineer from Carnigie Tech.

His opinion was simple. The aircraft would not have been controllable in
"normal" flight. The control surfaces were direct driven with some sort of air
assist. Hughes insisted on direct connection to the surfaces, and it would
have not been possible to fly. With some of the boost systems developed in the
later 50's, it would have worked, but just ask those who flew the big bombers
in WW2 what it was like.

Bruce Patton
(more later, got to go now)