Hughes was very much interested in flying and airplane design. He formed Hughes Aircraft and designed several airplanes, with which he set many world records. Among these was the Hughes H-1 Racer. On September 12, 1935, flying the H-1, he set the airspeed record of 566 km/hr. He redesigned the H-1 and gave it extended wings. On January 19, 1937, flying the new H-1, he set  a new transcontinental airspeed record – flying non-stop from Los Angeles to New York in 7:28:25 hours. His average speed for the flight was 518 km/hr.

The H-1 Racer and its assembly details:

The H-1 later inspired the design of several World War II fighters, including the Japanese Zero, the German Fockewulf, and the American Bearcat.

Hughes received many aviation awards, including a special Congressional Medal in 1939, which he never bothered to claim. It was eventually mailed to him by President Harry Truman.