Soon she's in the clear, and they prepare to start up the engines.





The shoreline is jammed with people who've come to see the world's biggest airplane during what was announced as a taxi test...      the Long Beach authorities had not given permission for an actual flight from the harbor.





Isn't this beautiful?
     




This other view through the door gives a better idea of the scale of this monster...
     


One by one, the eight 28-cylinder P&W Wasp Majors come to life...






Despite Hughes' failure to deliver the leviathan to the military during the war when it was needed most and the resulting investigation, there were quite a few military vessels providing escort.
     



Hughes spent a lot of time and energy- and 18 million of his own money-      on the Hercules, and this would be his big payback. The taxi test is about to commence...


     


Next: on the move!