than planes
that did not fly.
I think you've made
your point, Mr. Hughes--
One second, Senator Brewster,
I have one more thing
To say here to
this committee...
And that has to do
with the Hercules.
Now, I am
supposed to be...
Many things which are
not complimentary.
I am supposed to be
capricious.
I have been
called a playboy.
I have even been called
an eccentric,
But I do not believe that I have
the reputation of being a liar.
Now, needless to say,
The Hercules was
a monumental undertaking.
It is the largest plane
ever built.
It is over
five stories tall
With a wingspan longer
than a football field.
That's more than
a city block.
Now, I put the sweat
of my life into this thing.
I got my reputation
all rolled up in it.
And I have stated
several times
That if the Hercules
fails to fly,
I will leave this country
and never come back.
And I mean it.
[crowd murmuring]
Now, Senator Brewster...
You can subpoena me,
You can arrest me,
you can even
Claim I've folded up
and taken a run-out powder,
But, well...
I've had just about enough
of this nonsense.
Good afternoon.
[crowd applauding]
Howard:
I have to do it.
Reporters:
Mr. Hughes! Mr. Hughes!
Mr. Hughes!
Mr. Hughes!
Mr. Hughes!
Man: I'd love to see
the Hercules in the air.
Thank you,
thank you so much.
Thank you. Thank you.
Noah:
Excuse us. Excuse us, please.
Thank you.
Howard:
Thank you, thank you,
thank you.
Switch it off.
The hearings aren't
over yet.
The hearings are over.
The airline Bill will be
defeated in the senate.
TWA will begin flights
from New York to Paris,
Then on to Moscow, to Japan,
to Hawaii...
To Los Angeles...
...To New York.
Fuck.
[%%]
Power comin' up.
Odie:
Power coming up.
McNamara:
Howard Hughes
has just alerted us.
He has asked
everyone to hold on.
Tremendous horsepower
kicking up.
Let me hear it, Odie!
Twenty-five Miles per hour.
Thirty.
Here we go.
Here we go.
Thirty-five.
The air-speed indicator
has moved up to 25.
It's 30.
It's 35.
Forty.
As he pushes the throttle,
it's 40.
Forty-five.
Forty-five.
More throttle.
Forty-five.
Fifty.
Fifty.
It's 50 over a choppy sea.
Fifty-five.
Fifty-five.
It's 55.
Sixty.
More throttle. It's 60.
Sixty-five.
It bounces to 65.
Odie:
Seventy.
It's 70.
Seventy-five.
It's 75.
[sounds silence]
And something momentarily
has just cut out.
I believe we are airborne.
We are airborne,
ladies and gentlemen.
I don't believe
that Howard Hughes
Meant this to be, I don't know.
[crowd cheering & applauding]
And we were really up
in the air.
We were really up in the air.
[%%]
Ladies and gentlemen,
the Hughes mammoth aircraft
Has flown this afternoon
in Los Angeles harbor.
Well, it certainly looks
at this moment
That Howard Hughes will be
around the United States
For quite some time to come.
Howard:
What we must understand is
that technologies like these
Are the way of the future.
That's enough questions for now.
Jack:
TWA and Hughes aircraft
were delighted
To have you come here and
witness this wonderful sight.
Excuse us for
just a second.
Sorry.
So you feel like
going to Paris?
Now?
TWA is startin' up
flights to Europe.
Thought I might pilot
the first one myself.
Ought to be some fun.
Mmm. Lots of good shopping
in Paris.
Hell, I'll buy you
anything you want.
You can buy me dinner.
How about that?
Dinner, then. We got a date?
Okay, baby,
you got a date.
I'll be back in a second,
But don't you go anywhere, now.
I mean it.
All right, listen, boys.
Something new:
Jet airplanes.
You know anything
about jets?
No, but it sounds expensive.