Pssst! You P-38 Folks...Check this Out!

[Andy Bush]

 

What do you think?

Andy

[Frosty1]

What is it? Prototype sketches?

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===>Frosty
====>Exposure2k.com
=====>Frosty@exposure2k.com

[Fishu]

Nah.. this must be the very begining of U-2 design  

[MiG Eater]

Kinda looks like prototype sketches for the XP-58 Chain Lightning.

MiG

[Andy Bush]

Here it is for real.

 

 

Andy

[Widewing]

 

Originally posted by Andy Bush:
   

What do you think?

Andy

I think that it was a shame that the USAAF decided against this aircraft. For those who don't recognize it, this is Howard Hughes' XF-11 Photo-recon prototype. Powered by two P&W R-4360-31 radial, which generated 6,000 hp combined, the XF-11 would have been a fast mover. Designed for the high altitude reconnaissance mission, it was pressurized. It also incorporated turbosuperchargers to maintain maximum power at extreme altitudes.
Hughes projected its maximum speed to be in 450 mph range. Hughes nearly killed himself when he crashed the first prototype in July of 1946, only 8 weeks into the test program.

My regards,

Widewing

[Andy Bush]

Widewing

In support of Hughes, he didn't crash the airplane! One of the props went into reverse in flight and the thing spun into the ground before Hughes could correct the problem. It nearly killed him.

The aircraft was in competition with the recce version of the B-50. The B-50 won.

Andy

[Sundog]

Didn't the HF-11 lose out to another beautiful aircraft, the Republic XR-12 Rainbow, which was, itself, eventually cancelled?


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Sundog
VMF-111 Devildogs
'Criticism is always easier then craftmanship.'

[Animal]

OMFG what a sleek plane!
I love it!!!!

Looks like a science-fiction P-38!!

[eddiek]

I remember reading about the Hughes X-11 a long time ago, like when I was 10 or 11.  
Hughes was a hell of an innovator, that is for sure.  
The article I read had a pic of him and that bird over Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Fall, TX, which is close to where I grew up, and THAT got my attention.
Seems, if I remember correctly, one of the props(she has contrarotating props if you did not notice) on the port engine reversed in flight, and it put the plane into a spin.
Will look in my stash of books next time I get out to our old farmhouse and see if I can locate that article.
Trivia question:  Which plane, in our current planeset, had contrarotating props at one stage of it's development?  (hint: someone call it a UFO!  )

[This message has been edited by eddiek (edited 02-20-2001).]

[TheWobble]

I posted A pic of that plane a month ago and the response i got was "proof of exparamental drug use" or something like that


odd

[Widewing]

 

Originally posted by eddiek:
Trivia question:  Which plane, in our current planeset, had contrarotating props at one stage of it's development?  (hint: someone call it a UFO!   )

Kawanishi's N1K1 Kyofu was the subject of experiments with a contra-rotating propeller. This was discontinued after severe engineering woes were not cured. For the record, Republic also experimented with contra-rotating props on early models of the P-47. This were abandoned when it was discovered that the symmetrical propwash would destabilize the rudder at high speed.

My regards,

Widewing

[Tac]

IM IN LOVE! Sleek, lethal... sweeet!!

"! One of the props went into reverse in flight and the thing spun into the ground before Hughes could correct the problem. It nearly killed him."

THATS IT! Thats what causes the spins on the P-38 in AH!   *grin*

[Duckwing6]

Judging by the one pic with the Conny in the background ..

it's a HUGE  target  

[Animal]

any speed information?
did it ever carry any weapons or was it plain recon?