Description printed on photograph's accompanying sheet of paper: "Howard Hughes is appointed Aeronautic Adviser to the New York Worlds Fair 1939 by Grover Whalen, its president."
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.
Howard Hughes leaving his private hangar as he is wished "happy landings" and well wishes by friends before he boards his speedy Lockheed plane at Union Air Terminal in Burbank, California.