The black and white view of Howard Hughes in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Description printed on photograph's accompanying sheet of paper: "Howard Hughes talks over refueling at Minneapolis with a Northwest Airlines attendant."
Transcribed from press release attached to back of photo: "NEW-DESIGN PHOTO PLANE COMPLETED CULVER CITY, Calif., July 7 -- test-flown today for the first time, the new XF-11 was revealed as one of the world's fastest long-range photographic planes. It was designed and built by Howard Hughes in conjunction with the Air Materiel command engineers. Army officials said that it can attain a speed of more than 400 miles per hour and a ceiling of more than 40,000 feet. The plane has a pressurized cabin making it unnecessary for the crew to use oxygen masks. 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."
Scale [ca. 1:3,231,360. 1 in. to approx. 51 miles] (W 125°00--W 103°30/N 42°00--N 31°45) ; 1 map : hand col. ; 40 x 60 cm., on sheet 46 x 68 cm ; Relief indicated by hachures and spot heights ; Prime meridians: Greenwich and Washington, D.C ; Decorative border ; Hand colored ; Atlas p. numbers in upper margin: 58-59 ; Date est. from territorial borders and county configuration ; Shows natural features, locations of Indian tribes, proposed railroad routes, routes of explorers, trails, county boundaries and populated places ; Johnson and Ward