Howard Hughes sits at the controls of his 400,000 pound Flying Boat just a day prior to its first tests in the Los Angeles Harbor in California. The aircraft was 219 feet long with a wing span of 320 feet.

An up close, portrait view of Howard Hughes as he is talking to newspapermen about his Round-The-World flight experience in Los Angeles, California.

An up close, portrait view of Howard Hughes as he is talking to newspapermen about his Round-The-World flight experience in Los Angeles, California.

A view of Howard Hughes talking to newspapermen about his Round-The-World flight experience in Los Angeles, California.

A view of Howard Hughes talking to newspapermen about his Round-The-World flight experience in Los Angeles, California.

A view of Howard Hughes talking to newspapermen about his Round-The-World flight experience in Los Angeles, California.

A view of Howard Hughes talking to newspapermen about his Round-The-World flight experience in Los Angeles, California.