wide range of science and technology developed by Hughes Aircraft never included medical applications because the company was owned by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). This restriction was imposed to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest. The money provided to HHMI by Hughes Aircraft led to major improvements in genetics and cancer research. The city of Fullerton, California, named Hughes Drive after the site that the company formerly occupied before 1997. After Hughes closed, the city developed Amerige Heights, a residential community. Timeline 1932: Howard Hughes formed Hughes Aircraft Company as a division of Hughes Tool Company. 1948: Hughes formed the Aerospace Group within the company, divided into: Hughes Space and Communications Group Hughes Space Systems Division 1951: Hughes Aircraft opened missile plant in Tucson, Arizona. 1953: The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) was formed, and Hughes Aircraft reformed as a subsidiary of the foundation. The Internal Revenue Service unsuccessfully challenged its "charitable" status which made it tax-exempt. 1955: Hughes formed its helicopter division, Aircraft Division. 1960: The first laser was produced at Hughes Research Laboratories, by Theodore Maiman. 1961: Hughes Research Laboratories completed their move to Malibu, California. 1972: Hughes sold the tool division of Hughes Tool Company. His remaining interests were transferred to the newly formed holding company, the Summa Corporation. This included Toolco Aircraft and Hughes' property and other businesses. 1976: Toolco Aircraft became Hughes Helicopters. 1976: Howard Hughes died at the age of 70, leaving no will. 1984: The Summa Corporation sold Hughes Helicopters to McDonnell Douglas for $500 million; it was soon renamed McDonnell Douglas Helicopters. 1984: The Delaware Court of Chancery appointed eight trustees to the Howard Hughes Medical Institute; they decided to sell Hughes Aircraft. 1985: The HHMI sold Hughes Aircraft to General Motors for $5.2 billion. This was merged with GM's Delco Electronics to form Hughes Electronics Corporation. This group then consisted of: Delco Electronics Corporation Hughes Aircraft Company 1987: Hughes Aircraft Company acquired M/A-COM Telecommunications, to form Hughes Network Systems. 1994: Hughes Electronics introduced DirecTV'. 1995: Hughes Space and Communications Company became the world's biggest supplier of commercial satellites. 1995: Hughes Electronics acquired Magnavox Electronic Systems from the Carlyle Group. 1995: Hughes Aircraft acquired CAE-Link; CAE-Link was part of the original company founded by Edwin Link, inventor of the flight simulator. 1996: Hughes Electronics and PanAmSat agreed to merge their fixed satellite services into a new publicly