Hughes had been interested in aviation long before his father’s death. The Hughes family was known for their engineering background; and growing up Hughes Jr. would take things apart and put them back together. Before the age of twelve, Hughes built Houston’s first radio transmitter and a motorized bicycle. And by the age of fourteen, Hughes started taking flying lessons. One day Hughes Sr. and Jr. were at a Harvard-Yale boat race. Hughes Sr. promised Jr. anything he would like if Harvard won the race. Harvard did win, so Hughes asked his dad if he could fly on a seaplane. Howard Sr. was reluctant at first, but Hughes was adamant about the airplane ride. Sr. gave in and the two both flew on the seacraft, the experience was nothing out of the
