Originally developed by the Hughes Aircraft Company in the 1940s, the XF-11 was a high-altitude reconnaissance prototype powered by two 28-cylinder Pratt & Whitney Wasp Major radial engines. Designed for long-range and high-speed missions, it featured contra-rotating propellers, a 44,000-foot ceiling, and a range exceeding 4,000 nautical miles. Although the aircraft was destroyed during its maiden flight, its bold design and specifications have continued to spark interest among aviation enthusiasts.
The latest update of Flying Fries' recreation of this aircraft introduces several sound and visual improvements. A second phase of sound pack adjustments has refined engine acoustics, added distinctive audio changes based on canopy and door positions, and introduced a new drinking bottle sound effect. Visual enhancements include new objects and textures in the interior and nose sections, as well as clickable folded canopy covers under the navigator’s table. New visual effects such as water spray and thrust dust have been added, and the startup smoke visuals have been revised in terms of color, density, duration, and size. The update also resolves a minor dark spot appearing inside the mug post-coffee interaction. On the flight dynamics side, a fix now prevents the aircraft from veering left during throttle application while taxiing or taking off.
Additional refinements include corrected default positions for the throttle and propeller levers on various spawn conditions, improved sound and interactivity of magnetos and autopilot switches, and an updated user manual with new audio setup guidance. The refactoring of XML files rounds off the backend improvements, though this brings no user-facing changes. You can purchase the Hughes XF-11 on Flightsim.to at the following link ⭐️ Hughes XF-11 by Flying Fries.