The black and white, skyline view of New York City with Lockheed 14 flying in the foreground. Typed onto script included with the image: "Howard Hughes plane in flight over New York City. July 1938."

Howard Hughes in the cockpit of his XF-11 before its first test flight.

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: "Hughes Pilots Radar-Equipped Plane Culver City, Calif. -- First passenger plane equipped with radar is flown in demonstration May 1st by Howard Hughes (left) and co-pilot R.C. Loomis over Culver City. Pilots using this equipment will be warned of approaching obstacles by lights flashing on radar panel. Two lights (lefts) with 2,000-foot range, are used to guarantee clearance over mountains; two lights (right) with 500-foot range, are a safety device for approaches and landings. Either set of lights warns against approaching aircraft. Trans-World Airline plans to install radar on its passenger planes. Credit (ACME) 5-3-47."

A view of Howard Hughes conversing with an unidentified group of people in California.

A view of Howard Hughes conversing with an unidentified group of people in California.

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.