On July 7, 1946 aviator Howard Hughes took his baby, the XF-11 out for a test flight. Things went terribly wrong and the resulting crash is one of the most famous in history and a defining moment in Hughes' life. Images from this day are rare and this is the ONLY example we have ever see, showing Hughes in the cockpit and ready to soar into the air for his tragic cruise over Beverly Hills. A crystal clear and bold work of photography, this is one of the most important aviation photographs we have ever handled.

Size: 7x9
Designation: Vintage 1
Condition: 4.5/5
Quality: 5/5
Overall Grade: 9.5/10