CAT-SHA1-XH40 1957 Bell XH-40 Utility Helicopter No. 2 Safety Of Flight Booklet
Early Huey Prototype Documentation • February 5–6, 1957 • Jeffrey Evans Helicopter Archive Estate
🚁 Description
Offered here is an original vintage spiral-bound XH-40 Utility Helicopter Number 2 safety-of-flight inspection booklet titled “Pictures Taken During 5 And 6 February 1957 Safety Of Flight Inspection.”
This booklet comes from the Jeffrey Evans helicopter archive estate and documents one of the earliest prototype stages of the aircraft family that led directly to the Bell UH-1 Iroquois / Huey. This is not a standard Huey brochure or later service manual — it is prototype inspection photo documentation connected to XH-40 Helicopter No. 2.
📚 What Is Included
- 🚁 Original XH-40 Utility Helicopter Number 2 safety-of-flight inspection booklet
- 📅 Photos identified as taken during February 5–6, 1957 inspection period
- 📄 Typewritten inspection/context text referencing Contract AF33(600)-30229
- 📊 Unclassified mission/performance pages and aircraft data material shown
- 📐 Aircraft diagrams and rotor hub assembly imagery
- 📷 Multiple black-and-white photo plates showing aircraft exterior, cockpit/equipment views, rotor system, Bell personnel, and inspection views
- 🧭 From the Jeffrey Evans helicopter archive estate
⭐ Why You’ll Love It
This is a top-tier early Huey prototype archive piece. The XH-40 was the prototype designation that led into the Bell UH-1 Iroquois / Huey family, one of the most important helicopter lines in military aviation history.
- 🔥 Prototype aircraft subject tied directly to the birth of the Huey family.
- 🛠️ Safety-of-flight inspection content rather than a standard sales brochure or later public manual.
- 📷 Rare photo documentation showing XH-40 aircraft views, cockpit/equipment details, inspection areas, and Bell personnel.
- 📐 Technical content includes rotor hub assembly imagery, performance material, diagrams, and notes.
- 🧭 Jeffrey Evans archive provenance adds meaningful rotorcraft history context.
🛩️ Historical And Technical Appeal
The first text page states that the photos were taken under Contract AF33(600)-30229 for the design, development, fabrication, and flight testing of the XH-40 Army Utility Helicopter. It also states that the safety-of-flight inspection was conducted on XH-40 Helicopter No. 2 by government personnel on February 5 and 6, 1957.
Interior pages show the aircraft in early prototype configuration, inspection views, Bell personnel, cockpit/equipment areas, exterior airframe views, rotor hub assembly material, diagrams, and performance/reference pages. For a Huey historian, Bell collector, aviation museum, or early turbine helicopter researcher, this is a serious archive item.
🔎 Condition
Original vintage spiral-bound XH-40 Utility Helicopter Number 2 safety-of-flight inspection booklet from the Jeffrey Evans helicopter archive estate. Pre-owned archive item in very clean condition for age. Light blue cover shows minor age toning, light handling wear, small marks, and expected storage wear. Spiral binding appears intact. Interior pages include typewritten inspection text, technical notes, unclassified mission/performance pages, aircraft diagrams, rotor hub assembly imagery, and multiple black-and-white photo plates showing the XH-40 prototype aircraft, cockpit/equipment areas, Bell personnel, and related inspection views. Page completeness has not been individually verified against any original issue record. Please review all photos carefully as they are part of the description.
📋 Item Specifics Brand / Company Bell Aircraft / Bell Helicopter Related Type Prototype Safety Of Flight Inspection Booklet Aircraft Bell XH-40 Utility Helicopter Prototype Number XH-40 Helicopter No. 2 Related Aircraft Family Bell Model 204 / UH-1 Iroquois / Huey Date February 5–6, 1957 Contract Shown AF33(600)-30229 Format Spiral-Bound Photo / Inspection Booklet Provenance Jeffrey Evans Helicopter Archive Estate Custom SKU CAT-SHA1-XH40 📦 Shipping And Care
Ships free with tracked shipping. This archive booklet will be packed flat in a sturdy box with rigid protection to help protect the covers, page edges, corners, photo plates, and spiral binding during transit.
🛡️ Buyer Confidence
Photos are part of the description and show the actual item you will receive. Please review the cover, spiral binding, inspection text, contract reference, unclassified performance pages, diagrams, rotor hub assembly page, black-and-white photo plates, page edges, and visible condition details closely before purchase.
🚁 Add This XH-40 Prototype Archive Piece To Your Watchlist
Early XH-40 prototype safety-of-flight material from the Jeffrey Evans helicopter archive is not everyday aviation paper.
⭐ Add to watchlist, favorite the store, and check back for more aviation, helicopter, prototype, military, transportation, and technical archive finds being listed regularly.
