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."

The black and white view of a crowd of people awaiting the arrival Lockheed 14 aircraft at Floyd Bennett Airport in New York. Typed onto a piece of paper attached to the image: "Tumultuous welcome awaits world fliers here Floyd Bennett Airport, N.Y. -- Policemen lined up on the field here awaiting the arrival of Howard Hughes and his companions, New York bound from Minneapolis, on the last leg of their epochal Round-The-World flight. By noon, a crowd of 6,000 persons had gathered at the airport, and it was increasing by the moment. Credit line (ACME). 7/14/38."

Howard Hughes warming up the first XF-11 prototype.

Description given with photo: "Losing Money on Flying Boat, Says Hughes, Culver City, Calif.: Howard Hughes (center, facing camera) makes his first appearance before the press since the start of the senate investigation into his multi-million dollar plane contracts. Hughes said the government is getting its $18,000,000 worth out of his big, eight-engined flying boat but he's losing money. the plane has yet to be flown. Credit (ACME). 7-30-47."

From the Bob Paluzzi Panoramic Photographs

A view of Howard Hughes (left) being asked about his controversial XF-11 photo reconnaissance plane by Senator Harry Cain (right), Republican of Washington, in Culver City, California.

Howard Hughes in the cockpit of the XF-11. Trucks and emergency vehicles are seen nearby.