In 1943, the Hughes Aircraft Company took orders from the USAF for a hundred military reconnaissance aircraft with an ambitious flight envelope including fast altitude, high cruise speed, and unbeatable range. Three years later, the prototype of the XF-11 was born. 6,000 horsepower is provided by two Pratt and Whitney 28-cylinder radial beasts. The impressive "Wasp Major". And everything about this aircraft is over the top:
- 16 enormous blades mounted on 2x2 contra-rotating propellers.
- A ceiling altitude of 44,000 feet.
- A cruise speed of 300 knots at 30,000 feet
- And a range of 5,000 Miles (4,300 NM).
Unfortunately, this beauty was destroyed during its first flight, ending prematurely the story of the XF-11, but luckily making no casualties.
Today, Flying Fries is proud and honored to present you with a virtual replica of this iconic aircraft. We have been scraping old drawings, schematics, and low-quality photos for months, and here is the result in all its glory. A fully custom-made aircraft, with high-quality modeling and texturing, and a unique level of interaction with each system and each switch, down to every single circuit breaker.
The flight model has also been patiently crafted using Asobo's latest tools (CFD, modern propellers, modern fuel system, etc.).
From the complexity of the electrical and fuel systems to the custom pressurization module or the ground power unit and exterior items that you can operate directly by getting out of the plane and clicking on them, we have pushed the immersion to its maximum.
Take off, set the auto-pilot, and explore the vast cockpit of the XF-11. You will start with the pilot and navigator area, but you will also be able to crawl in the nose section into the photographer's seat, to take a look through the lens of your camera, or just contemplate the world by sitting in the fully transparent glass dome at the nose. When you're done, you can check on the lower deck that the access door is closed and all 12 fuel valves are properly set.
For the bravest among you, some random failures of various severity could trigger during your flight, making your life much more complicated!
Did we mention the useful clipboard that will allow you to set all your options, check your failures, and handle your refueling tasks without opening the in-game fuel menu? And did we mention the many easter eggs that are yours to find?
