Spy Plane

[Skids]

Why didn't the US Department of Defense procure the Hughes XF-11 Spyplane in the late 40's?

[Clanad]

 Col. Elliot Roosevelt, U.S. Army Air Corps, son of the late President had heard rumors of the D-2, a secretly-designed project developed by well-known millionaire Howard Hughes. It was listed as a bomber, but was unsuited for the role. Reconnaissance suited the plane much better. While Roosevelt�s recommendation was under heated discussion, the one-and-only Hughes D-2 was destroyed when lightning struck the D-2 hangar. Despite its early destruction, the design interested Col. Roosevelt and he recommended the aircraft be ordered as a photo-reconnaissance aircraft. The D-2 had first flown on June 20, 1943, and is only known to have made two flights. Aileron difficulties caused a major redesign.  The Wright Field engineers were highly skeptical of the Duramold (resin-impregnated plywood) product used to construct the D-2 and insisted the aircraft be built of metal. They further insisted that the power plants be the new massive Pratt & Whitney R4360 ("corncob"). These requirements led to an entirely new larger and heavier design, although the aircraft would still resemble the D-2.  The result was the XF-11. On July 7, 1946, Hughes flew the first prototype of the XF-11. This flight ended in disaster and nearly claimed his life. The right side aft propeller had slammed into reverse, sending his plane into an uncontrollable yaw, which sent him spiraling to the ground. From his hospital bed, he ordered the second prototype aircraft be equipped with a single propeller installation. Hughes made the first flight on the second prototype on April 5, 1947. This time the test flight went off without a hitch. The XF-11 went to Eglin Field, Fla., (now Eglin Air Force Base) to be tested, however the Air Force canceled the program in favor of utilizing the much more economical Boeing RB-50s to meet the long-range photo-reconnaissance requirement...