Hughes XF-11

Hughes Aircraft Company · United States · first flew 1946 · fighter

The Hughes XF-11 was a twin-engine high-altitude photo-reconnaissance aircraft designed for the USAAF in the final years of World War II, intended to replace the Lockheed F-12 Rainbow. Howard Hughes was critically injured when the first prototype crashed on its maiden flight due to a propeller malfunction.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	19.94 m fuselage
T — Tail	Twin fin

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Twin-engine photo-reconnaissance prototype with contra-rotating propellers
Howard Hughes nearly killed in the 1946 crash of the first prototype
Twin-boom tail configuration rejected for production

A large twin-engine design with a twin-fin tail carried on a central nacelle/fuselage, resembling in layout the P-38 Lightning family but considerably larger and heavier.

Specifications

The Hughes XF-11 has a length of 19.94 m (65 ft).
It has a wingspan of 30.89 m (101 ft).
Its maximum speed is 724 km/h (450 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Designed during WWII, the XF-11 suffered a catastrophic crash on 7 July 1946 when a contra-rotating propeller reversed pitch, causing Hughes to crash into a Beverly Hills neighbourhood. The second prototype flew successfully in 1947 but the contract was cancelled as the military transitioned to jet reconnaissance aircraft.

Variants

Two prototypes were built, the second incorporating lessons from the crash; no production followed.

Where you'll see it

Never entered service; both prototypes were eventually scrapped.

Related aircraft

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.