Description given with photo: "Hughes At Controls Of Sky Giant For Taxi Tests - Long Beach, Cal. : Howard Hughes, millionaire plane builder, flyer and movie maker, is shown at the controls of the world's largest flying boat prior to taking the 400,000-pound craft out for taxi tests on Los Angeles Harbor. The plane, which figured in the Senate investigation of Hughes' wartime activities last summer, is 219 feet long with a wingspan of 320 feet. It was launched today, but will not be air tested until next spring. Shortly after this photo was made it was announced that taxi tests had been postponed. 11/1/47."

The fuselage of the Hughes Flying Boat is seen in transport on a moving truck rig on a narrow road in the country, on its way to Long Beach Harbor. Small groups of people gather to watch.

This was the administration building for the Hughes Tool Company at the Hughes plant on Polk Avenue in Houston, Texas, 1922. The building was constructed during the winter of 1917-1918. Hughes' office was on the lower right-side of the building.

The black and white view of Howard Hughes, Albert Lodwick, and other unidentified individuals with the Northrop Gamma Racer.

A view of Howard Hughes installing a radar safety system for passenger planes in Culver City, California.

A view of Howard Hughes installing a radar safety system for passenger planes in Culver City, California.

Date stamped on back of photo: Nov 2, 1947. Transcribed from attached press release: "IN THE AIR Hughes Flying boat, with Howard Hughes at the controls, takes to the air at Los Angeles Harbor November 2, 1947. LONG BEACH, Calif., Nov. 2 - - Howard Hughes' 400,000-pound flying boat, world's largest plane, in the air on its first flight. The mammoth aircraft today flew one mile at a height of 70 feet over Los Angeles Harbor with Hughes at the controls. Hughes had scheduled taxi tests only for the 219-foot long ship but it 'felt so good' on the second taxi test run at 95 miles per hour that he took it off the water, as shown here, on the third and final run. The super plane's air speed was 100 miles per hour. Take-off speed was 95 miles per hour. Hughes termed the tests exceptionally successful. The eight-engine behemoth, launched yesterday off Terminal Island, passed its tests today in view of thousands on the shore and in small craft near the test area."