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.
Description given with photo: "Hughes Holds Press Conference After Arrival, New York -- Mustached Howard Hughes stands alone as he is interviewed at Laguardia Airport late Sept. 11 after his arrival from Kansas City only recently recovered from injuries sustained when a plane he was testing crashed, Hughes flew to New York to confer with attorneys regarding the banning of a film he produced. Creditline (ACME) 9/12/46."
Description given with photo: "Non-Stop Los Angeles - New York Flight Inaugurated New York -- Howard Hughes, pilot, and Joseph Bartles (right), relief pilot, at the controls of the TWA Constellation which inaugurated non-stop Los Angeles - New York flights when the ship landed at LaGuardia Airport Feb. 15. Hughes, famous flier and TWA executive, was at the controls during the flight made in 8 hours, 38 minutes. Many Hollywood luminaries made the first flight. Credit (ACME). 2-15-46."
Howard Hughes near his Hughes Racer at Newark Airport after breaking the coast-to-coast record from Burbank to Newark in 7 hours, 28 minutes, 27 seconds. The distance he covered was 2490 miles while he was going an average speed of 332 mph. This record bettered his previous record by two hours.