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 photo-reconnaissance aircraft designed for high-altitude, long-range missions, often mistaken for the smaller P-38 Lightning.
Despite its ambitious design and powerful engines, the program was plagued by production delays and mechanical issues, particularly with its complex contra-rotating propellers.
Howard Hughes himself crashed the first prototype on its maiden flight in 1946 due to a propeller malfunction, suffering severe injuries and leading to the aircraft's destruction.
The XF-11 program was ultimately terminated in 1949, as its intended photo-reconnaissance role was more cost-effectively fulfilled by 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.