07/31/2016. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "In 1972 the US Army UTTAS (Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System) competition was launched and Boeing Vertol submitted its Model 179 design. Under the designation YUH-61A the US Army selected it to compete against the Sikorsky Model 70 YUH-60. The medium lift YUH-61A was a major departure in design philosophy for Boeing Vertol as it was a conventional helicopter with a single four-blade main rotor and tail torque rotor, full tail plane and retractable tricycle landing gear. It had external dimensions similar to the Bell UH-1 but offering twice the cabin space of the Huey and more than three times the payload capability. It used two externally mounted 1,500 shp General Electric T700 turboshafts to drive a single four-blade main rotor. Three YUH-61A prototypes were flown (73-21656 to 73-21658) the first on November 29, 1974, the second (pictured) on February 19, 1975, and the third on May 28, 1975.

The company also proposed a civil variant of the Model 179, which offered alternative seating arrangements for fourteen and nineteen passengers, as well as a company executive transport for six passengers. A prototype was flown on August 5, 1975 and Petroleum Helicopters ordered 28 for delivery in 1978. However, on December 23, 1976 the US Army declared the Sikorsky S-70 YUH-60 winner of the UTTAS competition, subsequently Boeing decided that the civil variant was not viable in the absence of the supporting military orders."