Jim Wright 'Hughes H-1 Racer' replica speed record attempt 

In the early 70s I worked for Hughes Tool Company - Aircraft Division that was located at the Hughes Airport facility in Culver City, CA. HTC-AD is the company that created the H-1 Racer as well as the HK-1 Flying Boat (Spruce Goose). AT this time, we were working on the prototype helicopter that eventually would become the AH-64 Apache. All of this to say that the Hughes H-1 Racer was hangered at the Hughes Airport. We could walk down and see the aircraft. It was an amazing piece of engineering and manufacturing. All of those flush rivets in a 100 percent aluminum skinned aircraft way ahead of its time. Everyone once in awhile they would roll it out and start the engine and do a compete preflight test. When we talked to the people that maintained the aircraft, they said that they were to keep the Racer 100% flyable at all times just in case Mr. Hughes stopped in to fly her. There was a small bedroom set up for Mr. Hughes to spend the night if necessary. There were also crates with spare engines for the Racer and the Flying Boat. Now the Racer is in the Aerospace Museum in DC and the Flying Boat is in McMinnville, OR. Sure miss those great times back in Culver City.

Hughes used a twin bank, 14 cylinder radial engine and a two bladed prop which gave the H-1 a very unique sound. Thanks for having the patience to record it.

Art deco in the form of an aircraft.

My mom worked for Jim Wright back in the 80’s at Wright’s Machine shop. I remember seeing this plane fly. It was exciting.

Only hearing about this in 2019

I saw this aircraft at EAA Oshkosh. Stunningly beautiful aircraft. The aluminum skin was a work of art. Did not see it fly. Sitting on the ramp when we were leaving. Was able to give this beauty a close up look. So terribly sad when I read a few days later aircraft was destroyed and Jim Wright was killed. So tragic.

I was at Oshkosh in '03 and got a very close look at the Racer, up into the wheel wells to see construction details and the like. She was an *amazing* piece of work, and of art. Hadn't even walked away when they roped her off and Mr. Wright came out and began his preflight. Nobody knew at the time that this would be his next-to-last takeoff. The announcer talked about him and the plane as he taxied north before turning onto 18 for departure. Soon after he throttled up that big radial he was airborne and we watched him until he was out of sight. It was really saddening to hear he had crashed later that same day.

What a beautiful machine!

Howard Hughes had such a feel for unique design in an era that was open for greater records.

A few of us pilots flew out to Oshkosh in 2003. We had the pleasure of meeting Jim, and discussing with him the build of the Hughes Racer. After arriving back to our Local airport (5B2) Saratoga County airport we learned of Jim's tragic accident. Such a terrible loss to the aviation world.

That scene where Di Caprio flies this machine on The Aviator on full HD and surround sound was awesome. Beautiful plane.

An absolute flying work of art. Tragically this beautiful plane went down in Yellowstone National Park in August 2003 on its way back to Oregon from Oshkosh. The NTSB report stated a probable cause as the in-flight loss of a propeller counterweight, followed by the pilot's loss of aircraft control during a forced landing attempt and subsequent inadvertent stall/spin to the ground.

I remember seeing this plane at Oshkosh. It was a stunning work of art. RIP

Yesterday we celebrated my brothers birthday and snapped a pick of us in our souvenir shirts from the 90s when we visited Jim during the build in Cottage Grove Oregon. The workmanship that was put into that machine was phenomenal! The work on the tailcone alone was some of the most complex work done on an English Wheel that I have ever seen.

Wow... the sound of the engine hits you like a wave. Amazing

Look at the wing root fillets, the cowling, all those complex shapes we formed by hand. No fiberglass on this plane. There are not a lot of people with the skill set to accomplish this!

After completing "Hell's Angels," Hughes had the world's largest film archive of planes dogfighting. Howard Hughes was a great American.

Holy crap! Finally a relatively decent video of Jim's H-1 pops up on the web. Thanks for posting this. To date this is still the most beautiful aircraft I have ever seen. Unfortunate what happened but I'm so happy he saw the project through, and that I got to see it at Oshkosh before they both departed us. Thanks for posting!

Great video. My son and I saw Jim’s H-1 replica at Oshkosh that fateful year. I took copious photos as the H-1 was a stunner on the ground as well as in the air. Such a sad day when I heard he was lost with the plane on his return flight. Seeing the H-1 in flight going full out was fun. Thanks for posting!

Mr. Wright kept this beautiful aeroplane at Cottage Grove, Ore I believe.. there was a local airshow their oneday, back in the late 90's.. he gave me a personal walkaround (me not knowing who he was). It truly was a work of art, and Mr. Wright was as gracious as any man I've ever met.

I was at Reno air races,saw it fly, and it was a beautiful machine.

Once described as the most phallic of aircraft. By me. Just now.

I was privileged to see the airplane and exchange pleasantries with Jim on two occasions, but I never thought to ask him how the airplane handled in flight. It was obviously very blind on the ground with the tail down, and he mentioned that landings could be "interesting", but he didn't discuss its handling characteristics in flight. The loss of Jim and the airplane were tragic.

I see SO much of this design carried over into Vought’s fabulous F4U Corsair, which cranked the wings so the landing gear didn’t have to be so long.

Beautiful aircraft,and so far ahead of it's time.Such a shame the pilot and this work of art was lost...RIP.

What a visual and audible beauty ... just looks built for speed .... thanks for the video.

Such a beautiful aircraft. Sadly, I witnessed Jim Wright's last flight in the H1 when he departed EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2003 and flew off into oblivion somewhere over Yellowstone.

Love that purr as it goes by

I was at Oshkosh that year and adored this plane. It was so beautiful to see in person and I'm thankful I got to see it.

Very truly and amazingly well done!! My hat is off in honor, to the people who were involved with this project! The pilot was fantastically professional.. A true joy to watch.. :) I could only imagine how exilerating it is to fly that iconic piece of history! The need for SPEED! I love it! 🤓

The sound of that prop is beautiful

"...Mmmmm...interesting!!!" - Kurt Tank

What an incredible beautiful airplane, such a pure form.

Was at Reno & watch Jim break the record. A beautiful airplane, and sounded awesome!

Like a bolt of stainless steel darting through the atmosphere. Flying art.

Just imagine seeing that back in the 30s!

That engine produces music

Just look at 1:47, where the the takeoff roll starts as it just starts to blow past the perfect harmony of prop-speed and airspeed synch in that tone that just penetrates your whole neurology, no?

My mom's cousin my second cousin is Skip Holm who use to fly the Dago Red, he set an air speed record of 535 mph. in a prop driven plane.

Love the sound of a Radial engine

Still breaks my heart as to the demise of Jim wright and his H1

Thank you for this wonderful video.

I have seen the actual Hughes racer in the Smithsonian. A beautiful machine. It was kept ready to fly for decades by Hughes team before being donated. It was a massive effort to reproduce this machine and a terrible tragedy when Mr. Wright and the reproduction perished.

Makes that classic airplane sound.

Those sound is purr art I mean pure

Stunningly beautiful aircraft.

Thank you for posting.

The real deal in DC hardly looks as good as this bird. Great build.

God bless U Jim I hope you’re soaring with the angels!!!

Incredibly beautiful plane.

wow! many thanks. glad i stumbled on to this video.

Back in time this plane was built, to break records. It's beautiful, it's fast and it has history. I love the H-1 Racer.🤗

An accomplishment, and tragedy, of epic proportion. Thanks for the video.

2:55 wow what an excellent noise.

It looks like the P-26 and F4U had a child EDIT: It also reminds me of the I.A.R. 80/81...

That is really impressive, especially considering the age of the design! Still sad about his crash and death returning from Oshkosh...

Beautiful plane. Exciting speed record.

After a nice dinner with a little wine I'm a little hesitant to say much more than "thanks for sharing, everyone"... I can relate. gracias

Nice sound

The flyby sound made me stop chewing

That is one sexy plane !

The design of the acft is so nice. The wide gear stance lends itself to safe landing to that dreaded ground loop. The NACA cowl streamlines the radial engine. What some people don't realize is the H-1 has another set of wings. It has a racing set and a cross-country set. Is you go to the Smithsonian in DC the original H-1 is wearing the race wing and they are stubby little buggers. Congrats to Jim on the record and she looked and sounded marvelous.

I find it crazy that it's going +300 mph open cockpit!

Outstanding workmanship on Hughes H-1 number 2,I refuse to call it a mere reproduction as this was so beautifully engineered,sad crash as when he was returning from Oshkosh and the engine failed he had two choices for the forced landing either to land on an area that he could have landed on safely but there were people in the way,so he crashed and perished into a rough area instead a sad ending to a lifelong passion.

Fantastic!

Damn, that's a sweet looking lift.

I wish I could have met howard hughes. I was 5 when he died

Everything about that plane says 'classic beauty'. They sure don't make em(much) like this today.

Never realized until now how much the Corsair looked like the H1.

What a beautiful Bird.

What Beautiful airplane

THAT is the most beautiful airplane ever.

My God that is a beautiful plane!

thanks to share

Oh that is massive cool. Howard was a genius. That bird is gorgeous. Pure elegance. She sounds great. If I was a wealthy man, I would want her over a P51D. Sounds crazy but I’m serious. I’d love to hear the pilot/owner talk about how she handles through the entire flight. From startup to landing.

R.I.P. Jim

Incredible machine.

What a great looking plane!!!

What a pretty airplane!

I was there, got to touch it!

That one damn rivet sticking up

Ggaahhh.... Such a beautiful plane this is so sad that both its pilot and it was lost

What an absolute work of art that aeroplane was and what a terrible tragedy.

Wow. That’s a beauty.

OMG.... What a beautiful bird.....

The sound !

Howard Hughes was the King of America.

A musical instrument, this.

Wow....that thing is beautiful....im work of art

Wow what a gorgeous plane!

Beautiful 👍

EPIC!

Awesome vid

Beauty

Lovely, lovely plane!!!

Who wants that plane instead of a car?

It's like Padme's cruiser. What a beautiful airplane.

Beautiful!!

All my Respect!

RIP