The black and white view of Howard Hughes and his crew surrounded by a crowd before they take off from Floyd Bennett Airport in New York.

The black and white view of Howard Hughes and his crew surrounded by a crowd before they take off from Floyd Bennett Airport in New York.

Transcribed from press release attached to back of photo: "NEW PHOTO PLANE TEST-FLOWN CULVER CITY, California, July 7 -- Howard Hughes, who designed and built the new FX-11 reconnaissance plane in conjunction with Air Materiel Command engineers, sits in the pilot's bubble-glass canopy preparing for the first test flight. One of the world's fastest long-range photo planes, the XF-11 can attain a speed of more than 400 miles per hour, Army officials said. It is powered by two 3000-horsepower radial engines with eight-bladed contra-rotating propellers. Outstanding features include a full-span flap, unique eight-camera layout, and exceptionally fast take-off." Transcribed from photo sleeve: "Howard Hughes sits in the cockpit of the XF-11, a reconnaissance plane that Hughes built and designed in conjunction with Air Materiel Command engineers. Hughes is preparing for his first test flight in Culver City, California July 7, 1947.

The black and white view of Howard Hughes and his crew being surrounded by crowds as they exit the Lockheed 14 aircraft after finishing the Around the World flight at Floyd Bennett Airfield in New York. Description printed on photograph's accompanying sheet of paper: "Hughes reception at Floyd Bennett Field 7/14/38 (Press Association"

The black and white view of Howard Hughes' Lockheed 14 aircraft performing its final landing on the Round the World flight at Floyd Bennett Airport, New York.

The black and white, aerial view of Howard Hughes' Lockheed 14 aircraft performing its final landing on the Round the World flight at Floyd Bennett Airport, New York.