Aerial view of Hughes Flying boat. Press release attached to back of photo: "LAUNCHING WORLD'S LARGEST PLANE The Hughes Flying boat was launched for the first time November 1, 1947. After the three concrete docks, one containing the hull and two the wing pontoons, were pumped with sea water to the outside level, gates were lowered and the Flying Boat was carefully towed forward by tractors, and by boats as the tail cleared the dock. During taxi tests the following day Howard Hughes made a surprise flight of a mile." Stamped on back of photo: "Hughes Aircraft Photo" and the date "Nov 1 1947." Los Angeles Harbor, Terminal Island are now known as Long Beach.

Howard Hughes getting out of cabin door of Lockheed-14 at the Floyd Bennett Airport in New York in 1938.

The black and white view of Howard Hughes' Lockheed 14 aircraft performing its final landing on the Round the World flight at Floyd Bennett Airport, New York. Typed onto a piece of paper attached to the image: "Howard Hughes two-motored monoplane is shown here being taken past the administration building at Floyd Bennett Airport after Hughes completed a round the world trip. 7-14-38. (Press Association)."

The black and white view of the Lockheed 14 airplane in flight.

The black and white view of Howard Hughes in his Lockheed 14 aircraft at Floyd Bennett Field in New York. Text printed on accompanying paper strip: "Hughes takes off on flight to Paris. Floyd Bennett Field, New York City-- Howard Hughes, multi-millionaire speed flyer, pictured in the nose of his Hughes Lockheed "Flying Laboratory" as Hughes and his picked crew of four prepared for the take-off to Paris and probably around the world on July 10th. A few minutes after this picture was taken, the giant ship lifted from the field to follow the trail blazed by Chrales A. Lindbergh. Credit Line (ACME) 7/10/38."

The black and white view of Howard Hughes' Lockheed 14 aircraft performing its final landing on the Round the World flight at Floyd Bennett Airport, New York. Typed onto a piece of paper attached to the image: "Howard Hughes lands at Floyd Bennett Field. 7/38."

The black and white view of Howard Hughes' Lockheed 14 aircraft performing its final landing on the Round the World flight at Floyd Bennett Airport, New York. Typed onto a piece of paper attached to the image: "Howard Hughes taxiing up runway at Floyd Bennett Airport."