HUGHES 1-B MODEL

The H-1 is a racing aircraft built by Howard Hughes company, setting a world speed airspeed record and a trnascontinental speed record across the United States.

The H-1 was the first aircraft produced by Hughes Aircraft Corporation. The H-1s maiden flight was in 1935, breaking the world land-plane speed record of 352 mph averaged over 4 times passes with Hughes at the controls. In October 1934, the world seaplane speed record was 440 mph set by a Macchi M.C.72. Hughes made minor chnages to the H-1 Racer to make it more suitable for a transcontinental speed record attempt. The most significant change was the new, longer set of wings, which gave the plane a lighter wing loading. In January 1937, Hughes set a new transcontinental speed record, flying non-stop from Los Angeles to New York City in 7 hours, 28 minutes and 25 seconds. His average speed over the flight was 322 mph. Hughes assumed the United States Army Air Force to embrace the H-1s new design and make it as a basis for new generation of U.S. fighter planes, but it didnt happen when the USAAF used a fleet of P-39 Airacobras and P-40 Warhawks during World War II.

In 1975, the original H-1 Racer was donated to the Smithsonian and is on display at the National Air and Space Museum.