Materials depict the Hughes H-1 Racer in 1937. The photographs primarily depict Howard Hughes standing with the plane or in the plane's cockpit. The plane was designed by Glenn Odekirk and built by Hughes Aircraft Company in 1935, the first plane produced by the company. Hughes broke several records in the H-1, including the landplane speed record in 1935. In 1937, Hughes broke his own transcontinental speed record by flying from Los Angeles, California to New York City, New York in 7 hours, 28 minutes. Despite its speed, Hughes was unable to sell the H-1 to the U.S. military.
Archival Collection
Howard Hughes Public Relations Photograph Collection
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Collection Number: PH-00373 Collection Name: Howard Hughes Public Relations Photograph Collection Box/Folder: N/A
The Howard Hughes Film Production Records (1912-1992) represent Howard R. Hughes, Jr.'s Hollywood film production achievements through records from companies owned or established by Hughes. The bulk of the records date between 1926 and 1960 and include production and corporate materials from sixteen films, as well as materials related to Hughes' organizations outside of film development. Materials include documents, photographic prints and negatives, blueprints, line drawings, newspaper clippings, posters, paintings, and artifacts.
The hull of the $20,000,000 airplane, also known as the Flying Boat or Spruce Goose, being transferred from Culver City to Terminal Island in the Los Angeles Harbor. The Flying Boat was moved to Terminal Island's graving dock where construction was completed in June of 1947.
Howard Hughes (standing) , talking with William Powell, Veronica Lake, and Andr? Toth (seated) and Johnny Meier, Hughes Public Relations head, behind, at the 21 Club in New York City.
Scale [ca. 1:9,600. 1 in. to approx. 800 ft.]. Cadastral map. 'Compiled by Pioneer Title Insurance &Trust Company.' 'By Jack Asher, State Nev. Reg. Engr. No. 305.' 'Issue 5, 6/1/46.' Includes indexes. Pioneer Title Insurance & Trust Company
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.