Because of wartime restrictions on steel, Hughes decided to build his aircraft out of wood laminated with plastic and covered with fabric. Although it was constructed mainly of birch, the use of spruce (along with its white-gray color) would later earn the aircraft the nickname Spruce Goose.

Why is it called the Spruce Goose?

Because of wartime restrictions on steel, Hughes decided to build his aircraft out of wood laminated with plastic and covered with fabric. Although it was constructed mainly of birch, the use of spruce (along with its white-gray color) would later earn the aircraft the nickname Spruce Goose.

Why did the Spruce Goose only fly once?

The plane would need to be built from wood and fabric (rather than aluminum), as wartime rationing prevented the use of precious metals. Mind you, this wasn’t any normal wood but a particular composite of plywood and resin made from Birchwood.