Howard Hughes (second from left) standing under the blade of the XH-17, Flying Crane with L-R: Rea Hopper, Director of the Aeronautical Division, Hughes Aircraft Company; Hughes; Clyde Jones, Director of Engineering, Hughes Tool Company Aeronautical Division; Warren Reed, Assistant; Colonel Carl E. Jackson, Air Research and Development Headquarters; Gale. J. Moore, Pilot; Chal Bowen?, Flight Engineer/Co-Pilot; unidentified pilot. Photographers are seen in the foreground.
Transcribed from attachment to photo: "NEW LONG-RANGE PLANE ANNOUNCED CULVER CITY, CALIF., The FX-11 took off today on its first test flight. One of the world's fastest long-range photographic planes, it was designed and built by Howard Hughes in conjunction with Air Materiel Command engineers. It has a wing spread of 101 feet, 4 inches, and is powered by two 3000-horsepower radial engines with eight-bladed contra-rotating propellers. Army officials said it can attain a speed of more than 400 miles per hour and has a ceiling of more than 40,000 feet." 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."
Howard Hughes (second from the right) standing with other unidentified men near his plane in the hangar at the Grand Central Air Terminal in Los Angeles.
Description given with photo: "Hughes Arrives In New York: La Guardia Field, New York, N.Y. -- Completing his first air journey since his near-fatal test-flight accident July 7, Howard Hughes, airplane designer, pilot and movie producer, is interviewed by reporters after piloting his converted B-23 transport to a midnight landing here tonight at La Guardia Field. Hughes interrupted his convalescence to fly here from Culver City, Calif., with a stop-over in Kansas City. In New York, Hughes planned to cover with his attorneys regarding steps to protect his property rights in connection with the motion picture, "The Outlaw", which recently had its seal of approval revoked by the Motion Picture Association."