Howard Hughes (1905-1976), American aviation pioneer. Hughes was 16 when his mother died. When his father died unexpectedly two years later, Hughes inherited the family estate and dropped out of university. In 1932, Hughes formed the Hughes Aircraft Company to indulge his passion for aircraft. Two years later, Hughes built and test- piloted the world's most advanced plane, the H-1, in which he set a new speed record of 352 miles per hour. Hughes went on to set two more transcontinental records. Hughes died in 1976, having lived as recluse for the last 20 years of his life.