Materials contain photographs of the HK-1 Hercules, otherwise known as the "Spruce Goose" or the "Flying Boat," from 1942 to 1947. The photographs primarily depict the construction, transportation, and storage of the plane, but also include photographs of the first and only test flight of the HK-1 above Los Angeles Harbor in 1947. Howard Hughes designed the HK-1 as the world's largest plane, capable of transporting large quantities of U.S. military hardware and personnel. In 1947, under the program's new designation H-4 Hercules, Hughes had the plane transported from his factory in Culver City, California to Los Angeles Harbor. On November 2, he piloted the plane during its only test flight. The U.S. Air Force abandoned the controversial project, and Hughes was called to testify before the Truman Committee of the U.S. Senate to justify the use of government funds on a program that never succeeded.
Archival Collection
Howard Hughes Professional and Aeronautical Photographs
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Collection Number: PH-00321 Collection Name: Howard Hughes Professional and Aeronautical Photographs Box/Folder: N/A
Date stamped on back of photo: April 3, 1947. Transcribed from attached press release: "HUGHES FLIES DUPLICATE OF CRASH PLANE CULVER CITY, Calif., April 5 -- Howard Hughes, famed flier-industrialist, today test-piloted the plane pictured here, a duplicate of the XF-11 photo-reconnaissance ship which he nearly lost his life in an accident last July 7. He designed and built the plane for the Army Air forces in conjunction with the Air Materiel Command engineers. He has recovered from the injuries sustained last year when the freak propeller trouble dashed the original XF-11 to earth. As usual, he today took personal responsibility for the first test flight of the new plane." The actual flying date is April 4, 1947.
General sections and details of the casino building of the New Frontier Hotel and Casino from 1966. Includes revision dates, key map, and general notes. Original medium: pencil on parchment. Socoloske, Zelner and Associates, structural engineers; Ira Tepper and Associates, mechanical engineers; J. L. Cusick and Associates, electrical engineers. Site Name: Frontier Address: 3120 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Materials contain photographs from the Hughes Family of the Pahrump Ranch from 1937 to 1956. Materials include photographs of animals, ranch work, and old buildings.
Archival Collection
Nye County, Nevada Photograph Collection
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Collection Number: PH-00221 Collection Name: Nye County, Nevada Photograph Collection Box/Folder: N/A
Howard Hughes checking the instrument panel of the HK-1 Hughes Flying Boat (400,000 pound, 24,000 horsepower airplane) with his crew before the taxi tests, at Terminal Island in the Los Angeles Harbor.
Plot plan from the 1966 renovation of the Frontier Hotel and Casino. Original medium: pencil on parchment. Socoloske, Zelner and Associates, structural engineers; Ira Tepper and Associates, mechanical engineers; J. L. Cusick and Associates, electrical engineers. Site Name: Frontier Address: 3120 Las Vegas Boulevard South