President Biden takes first flight on new Marine One VH-92A helicopter
US President Joe Biden took his first flight aboard the Sikorsky
VH-92A Patriot helicopter, the latest model serving as Marine One.
The flight occurred on August 19, 2024, after President Biden arrived
at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) on the Air Force One
Boeing VC-25 aircraft. It carried the US president from O’Hare to the
parking lot of Chicago’s Soldier Field stadium. Later in the evening,
the president was scheduled to address the Democratic National
Convention in Chicago.
This landmark flight follows the US Navy’s Presidential Helicopters
Program Office (PMA-274) and US Marine Corps’ acceptance of the final
VH-92A helicopter from Sikorsky earlier in August 2024. With this
delivery, the program concludes its mission to provide 23 new
helicopters designed for presidential use.
“Not only have we delivered increased performance and reduced
maintenance costs and time over the current fleet of presidential
helicopters, but we have also delivered the next phase of Marine One
helicopters,” said Colonel Alex Ramthun, PMA-274 Program Manager.
“Knowing those who step aboard any of the 21 VH-92A will have absolute
top-notch execution, maintenance, and service for the life of the
aircraft makes me proud to be part of this amazing team.”
The new fleet comprises 21 operational helicopters and two designated
for testing. This allows for continuous support of the executive
transport mission, ensuring that maintenance, upgrades, and training for
pilots and crew members can proceed without disrupting service.
The VH-92A’s journey to becoming Marine One began after the VH-71
Kestrel program was terminated in 2009 due to extensive delays.
Subsequently, the Navy’s VXX program was relaunched to find a viable
replacement for the aging VH-3D Sea King and VH-60N White Hawk
helicopters.
After evaluation, Sikorsky’s VH-92A was selected in 2014 as the new
presidential helicopter, with PMA-274 awarding a contract valued at
about $5 billion. The following year, Sikorsky was acquired by Lockheed
Martin.
The Sikorsky VH-92A helicopter is based on the S-92 aircraft and
includes an enhanced mission communications system and an executive
interior. It offers improved range and cabin space compared to the VH-3D
and VH-60N aircraft.
In a 2020 report, the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) found
that the VH-92A program was “generally on target with cost and
schedule,” despite “some communications software issues still need[ing]
to be resolved.” By November 2021, the initial two prototypes had been
delivered.
The US Marine Corps (USMC), in collaboration with the White House
Military Office, PMA-274, and Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1),
has been working diligently to ensure a seamless transition to the new
aircraft.
Based at Marine Corps Air Facility Quantico in Virginia, HMX-1 serves
as the dedicated USMC helicopter squadron, entrusted with the
responsibility of providing transportation for the president and vice
president of the United States, among other VIPs.
HMX-1 currently operates a mix of 10 VH-3D, six VH-60N, and nine VH-92A
helicopters to support a variety of presidential missions, with the
VH-92A set to replace the older models in the fleet gradually.
Prior to Biden’s maiden flight, the VH-92A fleet was already conducting
transportation flights for presidential and security personnel
