There were originally two flying YAH-63s, 73-22246 and 73-22247. 22246 crashed on 4 June 1976. A static prototype was then made airworthy and we think that is the closest aircraft here, because the tail number seems to read 22245. Joe Baugher's website and Scramble list a fourth airframe, too: 22244, but Baugher says 22244 and 22245 were cancelled. According to Scramble, 73-22245 is the helicopter that crashed, which should be wrong. There is also a suggestion that the serials might be fiscal year 1974 rather than 1973. Photo from: Paul Faltyn / Vertical Flight Society / Bell

The YAH-63 lost the Advanced Attack Helicopter competition in 1976. Only three prototypes were built. At the end of the flyoff program, Hughes Aircraft was awarded a contract to develop and build the AH-64 Apache. Preserved at the museum by 1982.

The AH-63 was beaten by the AH-64 Apache. The photo reportedly shows the type's first flight, which took place at the Bell flight test facility at Arlington on 1 October 1975. Photo from: Vertical Flight Society