Fort Eustis in Newport News, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

High Performance Helicopter

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, May 4, 2024

1. High Performance Helicopter Marker

Inscription. This Bell UH-1B "Huey" helicopter 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 breaking the world record held by a Russian helicopter.

Erected by Fort Eustis Historical and Archaeological Association.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical date for this entry is April 15, 1969.

Location. 37° 10.016′ N, 76° 36.118′ W. Marker is in Newport News, Virginia. It is in Fort Eustis. It is on Lee Boulevard, on the left when traveling west. This marker is on post at Fort Eustis across from the Applied Technology Laboratory. Access to the post is limited to authorized personnel and sponsored or escorted visitors. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Eustis VA 23604, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Virginia’s Peninsula,

in Hampton Roads,

in Coastal Virginia,

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Skiffes Creek (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); "Magnolia House" - Chief of Transportation's Quarters (approx. 0.2 miles away); Matthew Jones House (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named Matthew Jones House (approx. half a mile

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away); The Landship (Building 415) (approx. 0.9 miles away); Colossian Baptist Church (approx. 0.9 miles away); Native Americans on this Land (approx. one mile away); John Rolfe (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Newport News.

Regarding High Performance Helicopter. The helicopter shown is 1962 Bell YH-40 Model 533 No. 4, BuNo. 56-6723, fitted with a pair of Pratt & Whitney JT12A-3 (J60) engines.

Information from Jake Swisher:
Originally built as a YH-40-BF, 56-6723 lived an interesting life as a testbed for Bell, the Army and the Air Force, before being put out to pasture on Fort Eustis. First modified by Bell and designated as the Model 533, 6723 received some reworking on its airframe to reduce drag. After testing the NASA’s Ames wind tunnel and flight testing at Fort Worth, the modifications proved to be successful in increasing the Huey’s speed and aerodynamics. It also tested several different rotor configurations before being fitted with two Continental J69-T-9 turbojets on either side of the fuselage. On 6 April 1965 it flew at 249 mph in level flight and 254 mph in a shallow dive. In 1968, it was reengined

Hot-Rod Huey image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, May 4, 2024

2. Hot-Rod Huey

Marker and the helicopter it describes, on the lawn south of Lee Blvd.

with two Pratt & Whitney JT12A-3 turbojets on stub wings. In its final configuration, on 15 April 1969, it reached a top speed of 316 miles per hour, unofficially beating the speed record held by a Russian helicopter. This high speed helo was eventually sent to Fort Eustis in 1986, where it remains today on display, off of Lee Blvd.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, May 4, 2024

3. Hot-Rod Huey

Credits. This page was last revised on March 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 5, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 212 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 5, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.