A view of Howard Hughes' Hercules being assembled in Long Beach, California.

A view of Howard Hughes' Hercules being assembled in Long Beach, California.

Description given with photo: "Hughes At Controls Of Sky Giant For Taxi Tests - Long Beach, Cal. : Howard Hughes, millionaire plane builder, flyer and movie maker, is shown at the controls of the world's largest flying boat prior to taking the 400,000-pound craft out for taxi tests on Los Angeles Harbor. The plane, which figured in the Senate investigation of Hughes' wartime activities last summer, is 219 feet long with a wingspan of 320 feet. It was launched today, but will not be air tested until next spring. Shortly after this photo was made it was announced that taxi tests had been postponed. 11/1/47."

The black and white view of the Lockheed 14 aircraft in a hangar in New York, New York. Typed on a piece of paper attached to the image: "Readying Hughes' plane for Paris flight-- Mechanics hastened to put Howard Hughes's Lockheed 14 monoplane in shape for a flight from Floyd Bennett Airport herem to Paris. Motor trouble forced postponement and helpers were working under injunction to have the ship ready for a takeoff, July 9, "at the earliest possible moment." Photo shows: Mechanics working on the plane inside the hangar at Floyd Bennett Field. Credit Line (ACME) 7/9/1938."

A view of the wing of Howard Hughes' Hercules being transported through California.

A view of the wing of Howard Hughes' Hercules being transported through California.

A close-up view of the front of Howard Hughes' Hercules in Hawthorne, California.