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 mechanics working on the Lockheed 14 aircraft. Typed onto a piece of paper attached to the image: "Filling up the take with gasoline on Howard Hughes' plane in preparation for a take-off for Paris. At Floyd Bennett Field. July 1938."