Uh, what is this?

[kg4kpg]

UH-1 Turbo?!

Passed this by earlier today at Ft. Eustis.

[KursadA]

Bell 533.

From this Flickr entry:

Jet Huey

This Bell UH-1 Huey was extensively modified for a major research program that investigated the high-speed flight characteristics of rotary wing aircraft. On 15 April, 1969, this helicopter flew at 274 knots (316 mph) and unofficially broke the world speed record held by a Russian helicopter.

This YUH-1B was used as an aerodynamic test bed as the "Model 533" and modified to a number of configurations as part of a US Army program. The first series of modifications, flown in 1962, featured aerodynamic fairings, a new tail surface to offload the tail rotor, and a tilting rotor mast inside a large fairing structure. The Model 533 was then fitted with a swept wing, two Continental J69-T-29 turbojets with 7,55 kN (770 kgp / 1,700 lbf) thrust each, and a modified rotor blade with swept tips. This compound rotorcraft achieved a speed record of 370 KPH (236 MPH or 200 knots) in level flight on 15 October 1964, and on 6 April 1965 topped that record with a speed of 402 KPH (250 MPH) in level flight.

The Model 533 was finally fitted with two wingtip-mounted Pratt & Whitney JT12A-3 turbojets with 14.7 kN (1,500 kgp / 3,300 lbf) thrust each. In this configuration, it achieved speeds of over 480 KPH (300 MPH).

Edited October 22, 2014 by KursadA

[hawkwrench]

Oh yes, engine failure at 300 mph, you're talking about one very exciting autorotation!

Tim

[Rich in name only]

Maybe an exciting autorotation but more likely break the speed record for autogyros.

With those wings it could have glided til they stalled and then autorotate or continue on like an autogyro.