Dream to Fly: The Story of Howard Hughes the Aviator

Dream to Fly: The Story of Howard Hughes the Aviator. A film by Daniel Miller documents how the famed aviator created the first airplane that was able to land on and take off from a body of water. The film utilizes archival materials interspersed with interviews. The Hughes flying boat, popularly known as the Spruce Goose, has been shrouded in mystery for decades before finally going on public display. This film details the information, including original footage of the only flight, from inside the cockpit and outside, construction details, and footage of Howard Hughes himself.

This is the only Howard Hughes documentary that concentrates solely on the technical genius of Howard Hughes at his pinnacle before his death. What better narrator to have on this journey of discovery than Walter Cronkite. The story of this war-time built cargo plane have always been shrouded in mystery. The fabled HK-1, now resides in Oregon in an aviation museum. The film shows this aircraft go from pencil design to its record-breaking proportions and then showcases the first flight with Howard Hughes. You will hear the original radio broadcast as the HK-1 glides to lift-off. Followed by her subsequent period of hibernation (1948-1980) to re-discovery, new ownership and various homes. The technical features of this aircraft contributed to aviation progress and innovation.  The film helps you realize the technical wonder of the "Spruce Goose.” The film also features a time-lapse disassembly and reassembly that she underwent to reach her final residence. Highly devoted aviation experts and admirers of Howard Hughes who made this re-discovery possible comment throughout the film. This storyline of Howard Hughes defies the playboy, reclusive Movie Mogul mythology with this thoughtful documentary.

Clips from the Film