Howard Hughes sits at the controls of his 400,000 pound Flying Boat just a day prior to its first tests in the Los Angeles Harbor in California. The aircraft was 219 feet long with a wing span of 320 feet.

Howard Hughes with his flight engineer and Dave Evans, radio operator, preparing for the Flying Boat's taxi test the next day. The group is shown on the flight deck of the 24,000 horsepower craft. The Flying Boat was assembled on Terminal Island in the Los Angeles Harbor.

A side view of the HK-1, Hughes Flying Boat, the world's largest plane, which successfully completed its first flight. The eight 3,000 horsepower engines lifted the craft from the waters of Los Angeles Harbor with Hughes at the controls. The plane is 219 ft long.

The interior of the 219-foot long hull of Howard Hughes' Flying Boat, on the day of the craft's initial water taxi tests. The picture was taken from the center section of the 400,000 pound aircraft. Workmen were completing the final arrangements for the test in the background.

The HK-1, Hughes Flying Boat, with the tail number NX37602 visible, in the water on Terminal Island in the Los Angeles Harbor.

An aerial view of Terminal Island in the Los Angeles Harbor, showing Hughes Aircraft Company and the industrialization of the area.

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.