saunder 3 Posted January 7, 2013 Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 This was released a long time ago but I love flying it, it needs some good engine management and that engine sounds gorgeous. Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,316 Posted January 7, 2013 Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 Whatever it is, it's a beauty. The cockpit sit's back really far, must make for a tough taxi. Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Godden 945 Posted January 8, 2013 Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 It's the Hughes H1 'Racer'. It first flew in 1935 and there was only one original built. It was the last aircraft built by a private individual to set the world speed record. The original was donated to the Smithsonian in 1975 and is on display in the National Air and Space Museum. The registration number in the screenshots represent that of a full scale replica built by Jim Wright, that first flew in 2002. So exact was the replica to the original, that the FAA granted it serial number 2 of the model. Unfortunately, the aircraft was involved in a fatal crash in 2003, killing Wright and destroying the aircraft. Cheers Andrew Link to post Share on other sites
dodgy-alan 1,587 Posted January 8, 2013 Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 The aircraft appears in the movie The Aviator, to get a close up of Hughes(Leonardo Di Caprio) flying the aircraft they used a Harvard (I think, May have been an old Vultee) with the tail redesigned to look like the H1 from behind the normal cockpit. "Hughes " sat in the dummy H1 cockpit while the camera was set in the back seat of the Harvard facing rearwards, when it was played back you got the impression that the H1 was flying with the camera filming from just ahead of the cockpit, it looked really effective. After the crash of the replica prior to filming a smaller RC replica was built and used for subsequent shots where the pilot is not seen in close up. Link to post Share on other sites
rosariomanzo 545 Posted January 8, 2013 Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 "The Aviator", what a great movie... Now show me the blueprints! Great shots. Link to post Share on other sites
dodgy-alan 1,587 Posted January 8, 2013 Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 Hughes was completely nuts, In Tony Blackmans book Test Pilot he reveals how Hughes had an HS748, and HS125 and a pre production HS146 all based at Hatfield. He was supposed to be evaluating the 748 for Hughes Airwest back in the USA but he loved the aircraft that much he comandeered one for his own use, Blackman was taken on as his personal pilot, not realising that Hughes would land in the UK at all sorts of wierd hours and demand to go flying! Often at the most inconvenient times. Sometimes in the worst of weathers, The company didn't dare refuse him as they would have been sued and also lost the potential contract for the the sale! Hughes was an absolute nightmare. In the event the contract never happened as he died before signing the order. Link to post Share on other sites
brett 2,316 Posted January 8, 2013 Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 The super rich operate by a different set of rules. Link to post Share on other sites
hurricanemk1c 195 Posted January 8, 2013 Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 Superb shots John! Link to post Share on other sites
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