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Hughes XF-11

Hughes Aircraft · Strategic photo-reconnaissance (prototype) · USA · WWII (1939–1945)

Hughes XF-11 — Strategic photo-reconnaissance (prototype)
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The Hughes XF-11 was a twin-engine high-altitude photo-reconnaissance prototype designed by Howard Hughes for the U.S. Army Air Forces. Hughes Aircraft built two XF-11s between 1940 and 1946 under a USAAF contract for 100 production aircraft. The contract was cancelled at war's end; only the two prototypes were ever completed. The XF-11 is most famous for the 7 July 1946 first-flight crash that nearly killed Howard Hughes — a crash that produced his most-famous near-fatal head injuries and established many of the surgical and medical-evacuation procedures still used for crash victims today.

The XF-11 was designed as a long-range photo-reconnaissance derivative of the Hughes D-2 prototype (1942), itself never accepted by the USAAF. Configuration: twin-boom, two-place layout with crew nacelle on the centreline. Power: two Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major 28-cylinder radials (3,000 hp each — the largest piston aero engines ever built, also used on the H-4 Hercules). Maximum speed 450 mph; range 5,000 miles; service ceiling 44,000 ft. Camera installation: 12 large-format aerial cameras in the boom-mounted nacelles for long-range long-range photo-reconnaissance.

The 7 July 1946 first-flight crash. Howard Hughes piloted XF-11 #1 on its maiden flight from the Hughes Aircraft factory at Culver City, California. About 70 minutes into the flight, the right propeller's auxiliary blade-pitch-control system reversed (instead of feathering), turning the right propeller into a brake that could not be feathered. Hughes attempted to glide back to the Los Angeles Country Club golf course but lost altitude faster than expected. The aircraft crashed into Beverly Hills, hitting two houses (one occupied by Lt. Col. Harvey Niccolino) and a third house's garage. Hughes was thrown from the cockpit and severely injured: nine broken ribs, fractured pelvis, third-degree burns, and a fractured skull. He survived after a remarkable 14-hour surgery; his subsequent painkiller addiction and reclusive behaviour shaped the rest of his life.

The second XF-11 (with conventional single-rotation propellers) flew successfully on 5 April 1947 with Hughes again at the controls. The aircraft accumulated 9 hours of flight testing before the entire programme was cancelled in 1947. Both XF-11s were scrapped; no airframes survive. Hughes used the crash and the XF-11 programme as central plot points in The Aviator (2004), Martin Scorsese's biographical film of Hughes (XF-11 sequences filmed using a CGI reconstruction).

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Hughes XF-11 was a special airplane built to take photos from very high up in the sky. Howard Hughes designed it for the American Army Air Forces. It carried a crew of two people and had a twin-boom shape, which means it had two long tail sections.

Two big engines powered the plane. Each engine had 28 cylinders and made 3,000 horsepower. These were the largest piston engines ever built for an aircraft. The plane could fly up to 450 miles per hour and travel up to 5,000 miles without stopping.

The XF-11 carried 12 large cameras to take pictures from the air. It could fly as high as 44,000 feet. That is higher than most passenger jets fly today. It was a truly impressive machine for its time.

On July 7, 1946, Howard Hughes flew the plane for the first time. Sadly, the plane crashed and Hughes was badly hurt. Doctors used new ways to treat him. Those medical methods are still used today to help crash victims.

The Army had planned to buy 100 of these planes. But the order was canceled after the war ended. Only the two prototypes were ever finished. Both airplanes were later scrapped, so none survive today. The XF-11 had a range longer than most cars could drive in a week without stopping.

Fun Facts

  • The XF-11 could fly faster than most propeller planes of its time, reaching 450 miles per hour.
  • Its two engines were the largest piston aero engines ever built for an aircraft.
  • The plane carried 12 large cameras to take scouting photos from high in the sky.
  • Howard Hughes nearly lost his life when the XF-11 crashed on its very first flight.
  • The plane could fly at 44,000 feet — higher than most modern passenger jets cruise.
  • Its range of 5,000 miles is longer than a cross-country road trip across America and back.
  • Only two XF-11s were ever built, and both were scrapped after the program ended.
  • Doctors treating Hughes after the 1946 crash created new medical methods still used today.

Kids’ Questions

What did the XF-11 do?

The XF-11 was built to fly high and take photos of the ground far below. It carried 12 large cameras inside its twin booms. The photos helped the military see what was happening in faraway places.

What happened on the first flight?

Howard Hughes flew the XF-11 for the first time on July 7, 1946. The plane crashed and Hughes was very badly hurt. Doctors worked hard to save him and invented new ways to help crash victims that are still used today.

Why were only two built?

The American Army planned to buy 100 of these planes. But World War Two ended before they were needed. The order was canceled, and only the two test planes were ever finished.

How big and fast was the XF-11?

The XF-11 could reach 450 miles per hour, faster than almost any propeller plane of its day. It had a range of 5,000 miles, which is longer than flying from New York to London and partway back. Each of its two engines made 3,000 horsepower.

Variants

XF-11 #1 (NX-1325)
First prototype. First flight 7 July 1946 with Howard Hughes. Crashed in Beverly Hills 70 minutes into the flight. Hughes severely injured but survived. Airframe destroyed.
XF-11 #2
Second prototype with conventional single-rotation propellers. First flight 5 April 1947 with Hughes. Accumulated 9 hours of flight testing before programme cancelled. Scrapped.

Notable Operators

U.S. Army Air Forces (intended)
Original 100-aircraft production contract was cancelled at war's end. The XF-11 never entered USAAF service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the XF-11 crash?

On the first flight (7 July 1946), the right propeller's auxiliary blade-pitch-control system reversed instead of feathering. The result: the right prop turned into a brake that could not be re-feathered. Howard Hughes attempted to glide back to the Hughes airfield, lost altitude too fast, and crashed into Beverly Hills, hitting two houses. Hughes was thrown from the cockpit with nine broken ribs, fractured pelvis, third-degree burns, and a skull fracture; he survived after a 14-hour surgery.

Did the second XF-11 ever fly?

Yes — XF-11 #2 first flew on 5 April 1947 with Howard Hughes again at the controls. The airframe used conventional single-rotation propellers (instead of the auxiliary-pitch counter-rotating props that caused the first crash). Total flight time: 9 hours before programme cancellation in 1947. Both airframes were scrapped.

What was the XF-11 designed for?

Long-range long-range photo-reconnaissance for the U.S. Army Air Forces. The aircraft would carry 12 large-format aerial cameras at high altitude (44,000 ft) over enemy territory, capturing high-resolution photos for strategic intelligence. The mission was overtaken by post-war jet-aircraft alternatives; the XF-11's piston-engine performance was already obsolete by 1946.

How is the XF-11 connected to The Aviator?

The 7 July 1946 XF-11 crash is one of the central scenes of Martin Scorsese's 2004 biographical film The Aviator, with Leonardo DiCaprio playing Howard Hughes. The crash sequence was filmed using CGI reconstructions of the XF-11 since no airframes survive. The crash and Hughes's recovery shaped much of the rest of his life — including his painkiller addiction and increasingly-reclusive behaviour through the 1950s and 1960s.

Are any XF-11 components preserved?

No complete XF-11 airframe survives — both prototypes were scrapped after the 1947 programme cancellation. Some component parts and crash debris are held in the Howard Hughes archive collection, but no preservation-quality XF-11 hardware is on public display.

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