I've been reading this:-
Not exactly light reading but still. Yes to use the colloquialism flying bedstead.
I'm not entirely sure of the testing format if I'm honest in that the chief test pilots are well documented but wondered if any others got involved. Just curious in that the controls were laid out helicopter like and wondered if that was due to any input from helicopter pilots.
I believe other pilots involved in this and later VTOL programs did do some helicopter training but I can't find specific helicopter pilots involved.
I see the EPTS didn't kick off the RW course until the early 60's so maybe there was no formal pool to resource?