The D-2 at Harper's Dry Lake where it was flown by Hughes in July 1943, showing the central crew nacelle and the two big 2,000 hp P&W R-2800-49 18-cyl radial engines with their cooling grills open. Wing span was 60 ft 6 in, maximum weight 28,110 lb, estimated maximum speed 430 mph at 25,000 ft.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hughes D-2 - СШАUSA - 1943

The Palmer-designed Duramold structured D-2 twin boom aircraft was kept completely secret by Hughes. However, somebody managed to sneak this photo which shows its slim lines and the long tricycle undercarriage which provided ground clearance for its 15 ft diameter Hamilton Standard constant speed propellers.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hughes D-2 - СШАUSA - 1943

The Hughes 1B 'racer' is pushed out to be looked over and photographed for the first time. Prominent is the short span dihedralled wing and wide track undercarriage with automatic folding flaps to cover the wheels when retracted.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hughes H-1 - СШАUSA - 1935

NR258Y having its engine run shows the short stub exhausts just visible under the NACA cowling. The slim lines are evident, with large wing root fairings, clean tail surfaces and retractable tail skid.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hughes H-1 - СШАUSA - 1935

Hughes comes in to land in the 1B, now NX258Y with longer span wing and 900 hp P&W Twin Wasp Jr in the form used for the coast-to-coast record.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hughes H-1 - СШАUSA - 1935

HOT FROM HOLLYWOOD: The modified Hughes Special (Pratt and Whitney Twin Wasp Junior) in which Mr. Howard Hughes flew from Los Angeles to Newark, New Jersey, at an average speed of 332 m.p.h.
The long-span 1B taxying in with flaps down 19.1.37 after beating the old transcontinental record by almost 2 hours. The normal procedure is to retract flaps after landing and before taxying, preventing damage from stones thrown up by the propeller, but Hughes commonly taxied in with flaps down (see also Gamma and Super Electra)

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hughes H-1 - СШАUSA - 1935

Onlookers group behind the roped-off area for the cameraman as he shoots the Hughes 1B after the wheels-up landing at the end of the speed record flight. Only the propeller shows damage.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hughes H-1 - СШАUSA - 1935

The prototype Constellation c/n 1961 first appeared camouflaged in olive drab and grey with USAAF star markings but with civil registration NX25600 under the port wing - often mis-read from the photo as NX25800. Its dolphin-like fuselage and 3 oval fins made it the best looking airliner of its time.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Lockheed Constellation C-69 / C-121 - СШАUSA - 1943

Mockup of the Excalibur, Lockheed's proposal for a new airliner with 30 passengers and crew of 6. It looked a bit like a 4-engine version of their twin fin Electra, but Hughes' ideas transformed it into a totally different aeroplane, the bigger long-range high performance Constellation.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Lockheed Constellation C-69 / C-121 - СШАUSA - 1943

For his world-circling flight Hughes purchased Lockheed 14-G102 Super Electra NX18973 c/n 1419. It was modified with extra tanks in the cabin and had a transparent nose with landing light, the most sophisticated navigation equipment of the day and a navigator to operate it.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Lockheed Super Electra 14 - СШАUSA - 1937

The Super Electra back at New York after setting a new round-the-world record, flaps still extended, with a protective police cordon around it. The lack of windows in the centre fuselage marks the position of the additional fuel tanks.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Lockheed Super Electra 14 - СШАUSA - 1937

Hughes taking off the Super Electra for the record flight, the 2 Wright GR-1820-G102 9-cyl radials with their Hamilton Standard constant speed 3-blade propellers at full throttle. In addition to Hughes and the navigator, a copilot/navigator, flight engineer and radio operator were carried, a total crew of five.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Lockheed Super Electra 14 - СШАUSA - 1937

The Duramold process was used on a production aircraft, the Fairchild AT-21 Gunner with two 450 hp Ranger V770-15 12-cyl inverted vee air-cooled engines and a tricycle undercarriage. The AT-21 was used to train many of the USAAF air gunners and bomb aimers of WW2.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fairchild AT-13, -14, -21 Gunner - СШАUSA - 1942

Sikorsky S-38C NC10V with two 420 hp P&W Wasp C-1 9-cyl radial engines was hired by Hughes in 1935. It is seen here with American Airlines.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Sikorsky S-36 / S-38 - СШАUSA - 1927