Description given with photo: "Radar Installed on Passenger Planes Culver City, Calif. -- Radar safety control system (cabinet, left, center) for passenger planes, demonstrated by Howard Hughes in a trans-world airline plane, at Culver City, May 1st. Radar, with 500 and 2,000 foot warning signals, tells the pilot when he is approaching obstacles. Equipment is being installed in planes flying routes from San Francisco eastward to Shanghai. Credit (ACME) 5/3/47."
From the Sister Klaryta Antoszewska Photograph Collection (PH-00352). The presentation slide reads, "Nevada Operations office off-site follow-up studies project scope. Collect & organize historical documents. Publish/make available previously unreleased or classified data. Make comprehensive assessment of radiation dose. Compile operating on/off site for each event."
Transcribed from back of photo: "Howard Hughes in the cockpit of the new XF-11 reconnaissance plane which he designed and built in conjuntion with Air Material Command engineers. He is preparing for its first flight. One of the world's fastest long-range photo planes, it can attain a speed of over 400 miles per hour."
Description given with photo: "Hughes Pilots Radar-Equipped Plane Culver City, Calif. -- First passenger plane equipped with radar is flown in demonstration May 1st by Howard Hughes (left) and co-pilot R.C. Loomis over Culver City. Pilots using this equipment will be warned of approaching obstacles by lights flashing on radar panel. Two lights (lefts) with 2,000-foot range, are used to guarantee clearance over mountains; two lights (right) with 500-foot range, are a safety device for approaches and landings. Either set of lights warns against approaching aircraft. Trans-World Airline plans to install radar on its passenger planes. Credit (ACME) 5-3-47."