I’d imagine Lockheed was quite capable of designing a high performance aircraft without Hughes help.
After all, were not talking about some small firm, by the time the P-38 was in the works, Lockheed was doing very well with its celebrating twins and with Johnson, a very capable design staff.
My father-in-law’s best friend was Hughes’ personal aircraft mechanic for years. Said he was a first class pilot.
Well Howard Robart Hughes was many things. He had also crashed 8 times ( aeroplanes and cars ) which undoutably left a mark on him.
Having lots of money he was able to accomplish huge undertakings, but the HK-1 was definitely a year behind ( or two ) the schedule.
Hiring Virginius Clark to make the Spruce Goose was a wise move, but I heard they accomplished more when Hughes himself was not around making the behemoth details.
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