Warplanes of the USA: Hughes XF-11

Hughes XF-11

(USAAF Photo)

Hughes XF-11 (Serial No. 44-70156).

The Hughes XF-11 (redesignated XR-11 in 1948) was a prototype military reconnaissance aircraft designed and flown by Howard Hughes and built by Hughes Aircraft Company for the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). Although 100 F-11s were ordered in 1943, the program was delayed beyond the end of the Second World War, rendering the aircraft surplus to USAAF requirements; the production contract was canceled and only two prototypes and a static test mockup were completed.

During the first XF-11 flight in 1946, piloted by Hughes, the aircraft crashed in Beverly Hills, California, and was destroyed. The second prototype was flown in 1947 but was used only briefly for testing before being stricken from inventory in 1949. The program was controversial from the beginning, leading the United States Senate to investigate the XF-11 and the Hughes H-4 Hercules flying boat in 1946–1947. (Wikipedia)

(USAAF Photo)

Hughes XF-11.

(USAAF Photo)

Hughes XF-11.

(USAAF Photo)

Hughes XF-11.

(USAAF Photo)

Hughes XF-11.

(USAAF Photo)

Hughes XF-11.

(USAAF Photo)

Hughes XF-11.

(USAAF Photo)

Hughes XF-11.

(METOPower Photo)

Hughes XF-11.

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