The black and white view of the Lockheed 14 aircraft taking off on a part of Howard Hughes' Around the World flight. Description printed on photograph's accompanying sheet of paper: "Howard Hughes take-off at 9:36 p.m. after 1 hr., 18 min. Fairbanks, Alaska."

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.

The black and white view of the Lockheed 14 aircraft preparing for a part of Howard Hughes' Around the World flight. Description printed on photograph's accompanying sheet of paper: "Howard Hughes world flight plane in S. Paul, Minn., for 33-minute stop before last leg of flight back to New York."

A view of Howard Hughes' Hercules in Culver City, California.

A view of Howard Hughes' Hercules in Culver City, California.