Hughes XH-17
Hughes Aircraft Company · United States · first flew 1952 · transport aircraft
The Hughes XH-17 was an experimental American heavy-lift helicopter of 1952, fitted with the largest rotor ever flown — a two-blade tip-jet unit spanning 40.8 metres driven by hot gases from two GE turbojet engines rather than a conventional transmission. It demonstrated the tip-jet concept at large scale but was too heavy and inefficient for service.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Skeletal crane fuselage with twin GE jet engines exhausting into rotor duct |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Two-blade rotor of 40.8 m diameter — largest ever flown
- Tip-jet drive system: rotor blades have combustion chambers at their tips
- Skeletal crane fuselage with twin GE jet engines exhausting into rotor duct
Unmistakable due to its enormous two-blade rotor, which dwarfs the skeletal fuselage below. Two jet engine nacelles are mounted on the fuselage sides; there is a small conventional tail rotor for yaw control only. The overall impression is of a rotor system in search of an airframe.
Specifications
- The Hughes XH-17 has a length of 16.25 m (53 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 40.84 m (134 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 145 km/h (90 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 pilots.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The XH-17 originated from a 1946 Kellett design purchased by Hughes Aircraft. Its two GE J35-derived jet engines fed compressed air and fuel through hollow rotor blades to tip-burners, eliminating the need for a heavy gearbox and tail rotor drive shaft. First flight was in October 1952 and the aircraft set payload records, but fuel consumption was grossly excessive and the programme ended in 1955.
Variants
Only one aircraft was built; no production or variant development followed.
Where you'll see it
Experimental only; demonstrated at Edwards Air Force Base before being retired and preserved.
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