Materials depict the Hughes H-1 Racer in 1937. The photographs primarily depict Howard Hughes standing with the plane or in the plane's cockpit. The plane was designed by Glenn Odekirk and built by Hughes Aircraft Company in 1935, the first plane produced by the company. Hughes broke several records in the H-1, including the landplane speed record in 1935. In 1937, Hughes broke his own transcontinental speed record by flying from Los Angeles, California to New York City, New York in 7 hours, 28 minutes. Despite its speed, Hughes was unable to sell the H-1 to the U.S. military.
Archival Collection
Howard Hughes Public Relations Photograph Collection
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Collection Number: PH-00373 Collection Name: Howard Hughes Public Relations Photograph Collection Box/Folder: N/A
The black and white view of the Lockheed 14 aircraft in New York, New York. Typed on a piece of paper attached to the image: "Readying Hughes' plane for Paris flight. Hughes's Lockheed 14 monoplane in shape for a flight from Floyd Bennett Airport here, 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: General view of crowd watching plane being serviced outside hangar. Credit Line (ACME) 7/9/1938."