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 massive, twin-boom, high-altitude photo-reconnaissance aircraft, visually similar to a P-38 Lightning but significantly larger and more powerful.
Its development was plagued by production delays and consistent issues, particularly with its contra-rotating propellers.
The first XF-11 prototype crashed during its maiden flight in 1946, piloted by Howard Hughes, due to a propeller malfunction, severely injuring Hughes.
Despite a second prototype being built, the program was terminated in 1949, with its intended reconnaissance role ultimately filled by more cost-effective modifications of existing aircraft.

See a mistake? Contact us.

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.