The Hughes XF-11, a Behemoth That Never Made It Out of Testing

The aircraft was capable of reaching 42,000 feet with a 5,000-mile range and thought to be an ideal solution for photo reconnaissance.

Jason McDowell

Tuesday, July 09, 2024 at 10:47 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Kimberly Johnson

Resembling the far more common Lockheed P-38 Lightning, the Hughes XF-11 was roughly twice the size but never achieved full-scale production. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

The Hughes XF-11 was a colossal twin-boom aircraft designed for long-range photo reconnaissance, often confused with the smaller P-38 Lightning due to its silhouette, but significantly larger and heavier.
Powered by massive Pratt & Whitney R-4360 engines, the program faced severe production delays and persistent mechanical issues, particularly with its advanced contra-rotating propellers.
The first prototype, piloted by Howard Hughes, crashed during its maiden flight in 1946 due to propeller failure, causing serious injuries to Hughes and destroying the aircraft.
Despite a second prototype being developed with conventional propellers, the XF-11 program was terminated in 1949, as more cost-effective modifications of existing aircraft proved sufficient for reconnaissance needs.

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At first glance, it might be mistaken for a Lockheed P-38 Lightning. The unique twin-tail boom arrangement, the shoulder-mounted wing positioned just behind the cockpit, and the small, bullet-shaped cockpit section itself extending forward of the wing’s leading edge create a nearly identical silhouette.

But silhouettes mask details and size, and a closer look reveals how the massive Hughes XF-11 was a vastly different aircraft—with a vastly different fate.