Transcribed from back of photo: "Howard Hughes in the cockpit of the new XF-11 reconnaissance plane which he designed and built in conjuntion with Air Material Command engineers. He is preparing for its first flight. One of the world's fastest long-range photo planes, it can attain a speed of over 400 miles per hour."
Description given with photo: "After Non-Stop Coast to Coast Flight -- Pilot Howard Hughes (left) millionaire flier and movie producer, co-pilot Joseph Bartles, and navigator Robert Stevens, relax at the controls of their Lock-heed Constellation after landing at LaGuardia Field in new York City, Feb. 15 on Pre-Inaugural non-stop coast to coast flight from Burbank, Calif. the Constellation, named "Start of California" and carrying 34 passengers, including movie stars and a crew of seven, landed at LaGuardia Field eight hours and 38 minutes after leaving Burbank. 22/15/46."