Howard Hughes' 400,000 pound Flying Boat flying 70 feet above the water for one-mile during taxi tests over the Los Angeles Harbor with Hughes at the controls. Hughes had scheduled taxi tests only for the 219-foot long ship, but it "felt so good" on the second taxi test run at 95 miles per hour that he took it off the water on the third and final run, which is shown in the photo.
The interior of the 219-foot long hull of Howard Hughes' Flying Boat, on the day of the craft's initial water taxi tests. The picture was taken from the center section of the 400,000 pound aircraft. Workmen were completing the final arrangements for the test in the background.
Transcribed press release from back of photograph: "Howard Hughes' flying boat, world's largest plane, rides free off Terminal Island in Los Angeles Harbor immediately after its launching yesterday. The plane's vertical stabilizer tip rides about 80 feet above the water as the air giant floats for the first time. With Hughes at the controls, the colossal craft will get first water taxi tests today."
Howard Hughes checking the instrument panel of the HK-1 Hughes Flying Boat (400,000 pound, 24,000 horsepower airplane) with his crew before the taxi tests, at Terminal Island in the Los Angeles Harbor.
RKO Pictures' blimp advertising their movie, "The Outlaw," that starred Jane Russell and was released in February 1943. The blimp is stored in a warehouse.