The 747-100 is actually 13 feet longer than the Spruce Goose, but the Spruce Goo.

The answer depends on which dimension you measure, but in terms of the "visual wow factor," the Spruce Goose (Hughes H-4 Hercules) is significantly larger in specific areas. Its wingspan is its most famous record, stretching nearly 320 feet (97.5 meters), which is much wider than even the largest Boeing 747-8 (roughly 224 feet). The Spruce Goose is also significantly taller, standing over 79 feet high compared to the 747's 63 feet. However, the Boeing 747-8 is longer (250 feet vs. 218 feet) and vastly heavier in terms of Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW). While the 747 is a modern metal marvel capable of carrying over 400 passengers across oceans, the Spruce Goose was a wooden flying boat that only flew once for about a mile. While the Goose holds the "classic" record for wingspan, modern specialized planes like the Stratolaunch have since surpassed it, leaving the Goose as a legendary relic of aviation's "giant" era that still dwarfs most modern commercial jets in height and width.

Yes, the Hughes H-4 Hercules (commonly known as the “Spruce Goose”) is larger in terms of wingspan than a Boeing 747, though not in length or operational capacity. Here’s a comparison:

Spruce Goose (H-4 Hercules)

• Wingspan: 320 ft 11 in (97.82 m)
• Length: 218 ft 8 in (66.65 m)
• Height: 79 ft 4 in (24.18 m)
• Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW): ~400,000 lbs (181,437 kg)
• First & Only Flight: November 2, 1947 (flew about 1 mile at 70 ft altitude)

Boeing 747-8 (largest 747 variant)

• Wingspan: 224 ft 7 in (68.45 m)
• Length: 250 ft 2 in (76.25 m)
• Height: 63 ft 6 in (19.35 m)
• MTOW: ~987,000 lbs (447,700 kg)
• Operational Range: ~8,000 nautical miles

Key Differences

• The Spruce Goose has a much larger wingspan (nearly 100 feet wider than a 747) but is shorter in length.
• The 747 is far heavier and capable of carrying hundreds of passengers, while the Spruce Goose was a prototype heavy transport seaplane that flew only once.
• The Spruce Goose was made mostly of wood (birch, not spruce) due to wartime material restrictions, whereas the 747 is an all-metal jet airliner.

Conclusion: The Spruce Goose is bigger in wingspan but smaller in length and vastly less capable than a 747. It remains the largest flying boat ever built and holds the record for the largest wingspan of any aircraft until the Stratolaunch (385 ft wingspan) in 2019.

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