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.
A view of Howard Hughes sitting with two unidentified men in the back of a car, likely being driven to a New York hotel, after landing the Lockheed 14 at Floyd Bennett Field.
A view of Howard Hughes sitting with two unidentified men in the back of a car, likely being driven to a New York hotel, after landing the Lockheed 14 at Floyd Bennett Field.
Description printed on photograph's accompanying sheet of paper: "H. Hughes, Jesse Jones R. F. C. of Texas, & Count de Saint-Quentin- Wash. D. C. International News."
Transcribed from press release attached to back of photo: "NEW PHOTO PLANE TEST-FLOWN CULVER CITY, California, July 7 -- Howard Hughes, who designed and built the new FX-11 reconnaissance plane in conjunction with Air Materiel Command engineers, sits in the pilot's bubble-glass canopy preparing for the first test flight. One of the world's fastest long-range photo planes, the XF-11 can attain a speed of more than 400 miles per hour, Army officials said. It is powered by two 3000-horsepower radial engines with eight-bladed contra-rotating propellers. 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.