Materials contain photographs of the Hughes XF-11 prototype military reconnaissance aircraft. Howard Hughes piloted the two XF-11 prototypes built: in July 1946, Hughes crashed the first XF-11 in Beverly Hills, California; in April 1947, Hughes successfully flew the second prototype at high speeds and at high altitudes. However, the United States Air Force abandoned the controversial project, and in August of 1947, Hughes was called to testify before the Truman Committee in the U.S. Senate about the failures of the program.
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
In 1964, Kim Bavington's parents moved to Las Vegas when she was six months old. Her father was an industrial designer and mother was an art instructor. In this interview she speaks of growing up in Las Vegas and the various locations where she lived over the course of years, including: eighteen years in Francisco Park, an apartment in Spring Valley, a first house in Green Valley and eventually a home that she and husband Tim Bavington, an artist, own in John S. Park. Kim earned a Fine Art degree from UNLV and worked at a sundry of jobs to support herself. She reflects on this and on how living in Paris, where she took art classes at Sorbonne for six months, dramatically altered her perspective of Las Vegas. Eventually a neighbor situation further changed her feelings about living in a gated community and she knew she wanted to move to what she calls "an old fashion neighborhood." The house search lead her and future husband Tim to John S. Park Neighborhood and a once "super Mid-Century Modem ranch" house. Their large five-bedroom house was built in 1963, has been restored to its original state and is furnished with 1950s furniture.
Ashley Hall was born April 3, 1943 in Caliente, Nevada. After high school, he worked for the Union Pacific Railroad at the Nevada Test Site as a cashier and as a signalman. He later attended Brigham Young University and the University of Nevada, Reno. After college, Hall served the City of Las Vegas in significant ways. Notably, as City Manager he was instrumental in the initial development of Summerlin, Nevada. Though he has retired from local politics, he remains active as the President of the Old Spanish Trail Association and as the U.S. Army Reserve Ambassador.
The black and white view of police men awaiting the arrival of the Lockheed 14 aircraft at Floyd Bennett Airport in New York. Typed onto a piece of paper attached onto the image: "Police in readiness for arrival of Hughes' plane, Floyd Bennett Airport, N.Y. -- Police lined up in front of a plane at Floyd Bennett Airport, as last-minute preparations were made for the arrival of Howard Hughes and his companions, who were winging over North Central America on the last leg of their epochal Round-The-World flight. By noon a crowd of 6,000 persons had assembled and countless others choked all roads leading to the field as the fliers drew nearer to their goal. Credit Line (ACME) 7/14/38."