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.
The black and white view Mayor Laguardia and Grover Whelen watched Howard Hughes land in his Lockheed 14 aircraft at Floyd Bennett Field, New York. Typed onto a piece of paper attached to the image: "Mayor Laguardia (left) and Grover Whelen looking skyward as they see the approaching Howard Hughes and his globe girdlers complete A Round The World flight, 7-24-38. (Press Association)."