Professor Schultz
Freshman English
November 12 2015
Howard Hughes During his lifetime, Howard Robard Hughes Jr. was known as one of the wealthiest, self-made people in the world. Hughes produced many big-budgeted films such as Hell’s Angels, Scarface, and The Racket. Most of his films were highly controversial which only increased their popularity. He was not only a filmmaker; however, he was also an aviator, aerospace engineer, inventor, and an entrepreneur. He was the definition of the “American dream.” Almost all of his actions and accomplishments were to raise public curiosity, but it was that same attention that caused him to repel into a recluse near the end of his life.
Howard Hughes began his aircraft company, Hughes …show more content…
His aircraft was a twin engine powered, four man operated, Lockheed 14 Super Electra. Not only did he want to be the fastest man to travel around the world, but he wanted to prove that safe, long-distance, air travel was possible with current American aviation technology. He continued his journey from New York to Paris, Moscow, Omsk, Yakutsk, Fairbanks, Minneapolis, and ,finally, back to New York. Upon his arrival back in New York, Howard Hughes Jr. looked down from his plane and his body shook. The whole area surrounding the airfield of his landing was coated with people. Thousands upon thousands watched as he landed his aircraft and exited victorious. He had done it. Hughes and his crew arrived in New York on July 14, 1938 giving them the record for the fastest travel around the world. They beat the previous record holder, Wiley Post, by almost four whole days. Upon their return, a ticker-tape parade was thrown in their honor and, Fiorello H. La Guardia, the mayor of New York spoke of his accomplishment: “Seven million New Yorkers,” said the little mayor, his voice rising emotionally on the scratchy public-address system, “offer congratulations for the greatest record established in the history of aviation. Welcome home” (Barlett and Steele 97). The streets around Broadway were covered in confetti and streamers so thick that the road was no longer visible. The Houston Municipal Airport was renamed after Hughes to honor his accomplishment. Since Houston was the place of Hughes’ birth, it only made sense to name their airport after their home-town hero. However, a lot of people complained about the airport being dedicated to someone who was still alive, so the name was reluctantly changed back.
Howard Hughes received a multitude of awards from his aviation career. He got awards such as the Harmon trophy, Collier trophy, and even a Congressional Gold Medal. According to Hughes’