The Aviator -- Howard Hughes Study Guide

Howard Robard Hughes Jr.

Born December 24, 1905, Houston, Texas. Died April 5, 1976.

Hughes Tool Company

Provided Howard Hughes with the wealth to pursue movies, aviation, aircraft manufacturing, airlines, and other businesses.

1905

Year Howard Hughes is born.

1923

Year Hughes inherits the Hughes Tool Company after his father's death.

1926

Year Hughes enters Hollywood and begins producing films.

1927

Year Two Arabian Knights becomes an important early film project.

1930

Year Hell's Angels is released after a huge, expensive production.

1932

Year Hughes Aircraft Company is formed.

1935

Year Hughes H-1 Racer sets a world speed record; Hughes flies it.

1937

Year Hughes sets a transcontinental speed record in the H-1.

1938

Year Hughes and crew fly around the world in about 91 hours.

1941

Year The Outlaw is released.

1946

Year Hughes crashes the XF-11 during a test flight and is critically injured.

Nov. 2, 1947

Date H-4 Hercules makes its famous short flight over Long Beach Harbor.

1948

Year Hughes gains controlling interest in RKO Pictures.

1955

Year Hughes sells RKO.

1976

Year Howard Hughes dies.

Noah Dietrich

Hughes's important business manager.

Katharine Hepburn

Actress and Hughes's romantic partner during part of the 1930s.

Ava Gardner

Actress who had a long relationship/friendship with Hughes.

Jack Frye

TWA executive who worked with Hughes and was important to the Constellation project.

Juan Trippe

Pan Am leader and major airline competitor to Hughes/TWA.

Senator Owen Brewster

Political figure involved in the controversy surrounding Hughes and the Senate investigation.

Hughes Aircraft Company

Aircraft and aerospace company formed in 1932.

TWA

Airline in which Hughes acquired major ownership and influence.

RKO Pictures

Hollywood studio Hughes gained control of in 1948.

Lockheed

Aircraft manufacturer that developed the Constellation for TWA.

Pan Am

Major airline competitor to TWA.

United Artists

Film company associated with distribution of some Hughes projects.

H-1 Racer

Built for speed. Hughes flew it to a world speed record of about 352 mph.

Lockheed Constellation

Long-range passenger aircraft strongly associated with Hughes and TWA.

XF-11

High-speed reconnaissance aircraft. Hughes crashed while test-piloting it.

H-4 Hercules / Spruce Goose

Huge wooden flying boat designed as a wartime transport. It flew for roughly 20 seconds on November 2, 1947, but never entered regular production.

Business theme

Inherited wealth + diversification + risk-taking + innovation + personal control.