Back Hughes XH-28
1953 - project

Hughes XH-28

Development of a large helicopter was begun in January 1951 to meet an Army requirement for a flying crane capable of transporting combat-loaded military vehicles weighting up to 20 tons (18.1 tonnes). Like the XH-17 which was then about to be flown, the XH-28 was to use a pressure-jet system to drive the four-bladed main rotor, with two Allison XT40-A-8 turbines being geared to a compressor unit and compressed air dueled to burners at the tip of each blade.

Weighing 23587kg empty and 47627kg loaded, the XH-28 was to have had enclosed accommodation for two pilots. Its four tall undercarriage units, each with dual-wheels would have given it a spider look while providing adequate clearance for outsize loads. These loads were to have been either slung beneath the fuselage or carried on a flat-bed attached between the undercarriage legs and fitted with a ramp for loading and unloading vehicles.

The design was subjected to extensive wind-tunnel tests with various suspended loads, and a full-scale mock-up was constructed. In spite of its promising capability, the XH-28 was not built due to cutbacks in the research and development budget made near the end of the Korean War.

Rene J. Francillon "McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920: Volume II", 1997

Hughes XH-28

Comments
Greg D, e-mail, 25.02.2024reply

Add to my last comment:
The Sikorsky Skycrane was the S-64
Check it out – – it could've been the son of the XH-28🤪🤪

Greg D, e-mail, 25.02.2024reply

The Sikorsky sky crane looks an awful lot like that!!! That work horse is STILL flying all over the world.
Sikorsky makes the best helicopters in the world m—of course I'm prejudiced because I flew with them and US Coast Guard Way back in the early 70s—HH3F which was the commercial Sikorsky S 61–that old gal brought me and my crew back from every single mission— and I loved every second of search and rescue and medevac flying.

Dan, e-mail, 13.09.2014reply

Shame it did not get built. . Bet you it would have ended up as one of those aircraft designs that last one hundred years like the B 52 or C 130.

Dan, e-mail, 13.09.2014reply

Shame it did not get built. . Bet you it would have ended up as one of those aircraft designs that last one hundred years like the B 52 or C 130.

sgjijog, e-mail, 30.10.2007reply

this is a huge bitch

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