Bell XH-40 US Army

These are 1/72 scale decals for the Bell XH-40, the prototype that started it all — the direct ancestor of the most produced military helicopter in history.

The XH-40 was Bell's response to the U.S. Army's 1955 requirement for a turbine-powered utility helicopter to replace the piston-engined designs then in service. First flown on October 22, 1956, the XH-40 demonstrated the transformative potential of the Lycoming T53 turboshaft engine — lighter, more powerful, and far more reliable than any piston powerplant of comparable size. The Army was convinced immediately, and the XH-40 was ordered into production as the HU-1A Iroquois, soon nicknamed the "Huey" from its original designation — a name that would become synonymous with the Vietnam War and American military aviation.

Three XH-40 prototypes were built, wearing a distinctive natural aluminum finish with bold "U.S. ARMY" titling — a clean, striking prototype scheme that sets them apart from the olive drab production airframes that followed.

A must-have for any serious U.S. Army aviation collection and a perfect companion to the early production UH-1A listings. Please allow some time for decal printing and shipping.