Negotiations between JSC and Bell Aerosystems for three LLTVs, an improved training version of the LLRV, were initiated in October 1966 and a $5.9 million contract for three vehicles was finally signed in March 1967. In June 1968, the first vehicle was delivered by Bell to Ellington to begin its ground and flight testing by JSC's Aircraft Operations Division (AOD). AOD's head, Joe Algranti, was the principal test pilot for its first flight in August 1968. Flight testing continued until December 8, when Algranti lost control during a flight to expand the vehicle's speed envelope. He managed to eject just three-fifths of a second before the vehicle hit the ground, the close call believed to be as a result of his attempt to regain control.