Home Bio-Bookings H-1 Racer Lockheed 14 XF-11 Spruce Goose Senate Hearings TWA Constellation Hughes Las Vegas Hughes Hollywood Hughes Tool Company Hughes Aircraft Company

The Aviator Howard Hughes

by Bob McCaffery

Welcome

This web site is dedicated to spirit of aviation pioneer Howard Hughes and a salute to his vast contributions to science, technology and medical research

 

It is appropriate for me to recognize two individuals that were my personal friends and who were aviation confidants to the late Mr. Hughes. It was their friendship, technical skills, advice and personal devotion to duty that earned Howard Hughes the title; "The Father of Commercial Aviation”

Glenn "Ode” Odekirk (1905-1985) –They met in 1933 during the filming of the epic movie “Hells Angels” that Hughes was producing and directing.  Ode was a skilled pilot, craftsman/mechanic and an airplane builder; a perfect compliment to Howard for that era.  He and Howard flew thousands of hours together testing and pioneering aviation technology.  Ode built the H-1 Racer, oversaw the details of the Hughes daring ‘around the world flight’ in 1938, the XF-11 aircraft and Ode is credited with the design and construction of the famous “Spruce Goose”.

Jack Real (1915-2005) - An aeronautical flight engineer at Lockheed Aircraft Company. Jack was Howard's aviation eyes and ears that guided the design and acquisition of many of Hughes airplanes for TWA and Hughes Air West. Jack served as president of the Hughes helicopter company and was responsible for the design and production of the AAH ‘Apache’ Helicopter.  He was considered Hughes ‘last best friend’. He was at Howard's side when he died on an airplane in route to Houston, Texas from Mexico in 1976.

Bob McCaffery - I am honored to have known these two gentlemen. Ode served as my Honorary Chairman, when I was Chairman of "The Committee to Save the Hughes Flying Boat" in 1980. Jack was Director Emeritus of the Board of Directors of the Aero Club of Southern California, Host of the annual Howard Hughes Memorial Award banquet.  I served as President of the Aero Club in 1985.

The Movie, “THE AVIATOR”

The Special Features Section of this Academy Award winning motion picture starring Leo DiCaprio as Howard Hughes has many of my interviews about Hughes and his airplanes, which is titled the “Modern Marvels - a History Channel Documentary”.  This biographic special was first aired in December 2004 and is frequently rerun on the History Channel. It is an excellent and more accurate synopsis of the life and achievements of Howard Hughes.

“THE AVIATOR” is a great Hollywood Cinema production with superb aviation scenes and actor performances; however many of the time frames and story line characters were incorrect and the movie focused excessively and too frequently on Hughes’ purported phobias that to my knowledge did not occur.

Bob McCaffery

Watch Some Partial Video Clips,
Click on the Appropriate Link Below

For best results, you should have Windows Media Player, if you don't have:
Click Windows Media Player Icon at right and download...

     

 Bob McCaffery's
History Channel Interview

56k Modem

Cable/DSL

 Howard Hughes Senate Hearings

Contact Information

Telephone 702.685.9515
 
Electronic mail
General Information:
Bob McCaffery:
Need a Speaker:
Webmaster, Denny Jones:

Hit Counter
Howard Hughes enthusiast have visited

Click on Links Below for the Page you want to go to.

Home Bio-Bookings H-1 Racer Lockheed 14 XF-11 Spruce Goose Senate Hearings TWA Constellation Hughes Las Vegas Hughes Hollywood Hughes Tool Company Hughes Aircraft Company

Send mail to with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2005 Bob McCaffery's The Aviator Howard Hughes