The revised Huey aircraft then took to the skies for the first time (though sans its jet powerplants) on August 10th, 1962. In October of 1963, testing with the turbojet engines in place was begun and the aircraft managed speeds of 214 miles per hour. The U.S. Army and Bell completed their commitment to the project in April of 1964 but Bell continued with the Model 533 for a time longer - introducing the J69-T-29 turbojet engines of 1,700lb thrust to bring the helicopter to speeds of 236 miles per hour and, later, speeds of 250 miles per hour. Before the end, the aircraft was outfitted with Pratt & Whitney JT12A-3 engines of 3,300lb thrust output (each) to which point, in April of 1969, the aircraft flew at its maximum tested speed of 316 miles per hour.
Only this single Model 533 was ever constructed for the program and it was given to the United States Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate to be displayed outside at Fort Eustis, Virginia.
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