It was fast and innovative, but ultimately rejected by the United States Army in favor of the Bell UH-1 Iroquois.

The four-seat XH-39 was powered by one Continental CAE XT51-T-3 400 shp (298 kW) turboshaft engine, a license-built development of the Turbomeca Artouste.

On 26 August 1954, the XH-39 set a world helicopter speed record of 156.005 mph (251 km/h) over a three kilometer closed course at Bradley Field (now Bradley International Airport) in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.

[2] The same year, on October 17, 1954, it set an unofficial world helicopter altitude record of 24,500 ft (7,474 m) at Bridgeport, Connecticut.

[2] It has been restored and is now on display at the New England Air Museum, Windsor Locks, Connecticut.