Hughes XH-17
| XH-17 "Flying Crane" | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Hughes Helicopters |
| Status | Scrapped |
| Number built | 1 |
| History | |
| First flight | 23 October 1952 |
| Retired | December 1955 |
The Hughes XH-17 "Flying Crane" was the first helicopter project for the helicopter division of Hughes Aircraft Company. The XH-17, which had a two-bladed main rotor system with a diameter of 134 feet (41 m), still holds the world record for flying with the largest rotor system. It was capable of flying at a gross weight of more than 50,000 pounds (23,000 kg), but proved too inefficient and cumbersome to be mass-produced beyond the prototype unit.