Janice R. Andrews
for Monday, President Joe Biden took the new VH-92A helicopter, often known as Marine One, for its first flight, marking an important milestone in the history of American aviation. The endeavor to replace the outdated fleet of presidential helicopters that have been in use since the Vietnam War has taken two decades, and this ceremony marks their conclusion.
Biden’s first flight on the contemporary Sikorsky-built VH-92A took place upon his arrival in Chicago by Air Force One. He was taken by helicopter from O’Hare International Airport to Soldier Field, which is frequently the landing pad for visiting presidents. This flight is the culmination of a difficult process that started during the Bush administration and faced several obstacles along the way.
After the September 11, 2001 attacks, the effort to replace the antiquated helicopters—some of which have been in use since the 1970s—was first started. Improving the president’s capacity for mission execution and communication in times of emergency was the aim. But major cost overruns in the initial program forced President Barack Obama to terminate it.
Under Obama, a new program was launched, and under President Donald Trump, the VH-92A—dubbed the “Patriot” by its manufacturer—made its public premiere. Notwithstanding the encouraging developments, the program was beset by problems with the onboard secure communications system, which was crucial for secret talks and critical military choices. Concerns were also raised about the exhaust system of the helicopter after it was discovered that landings scorched the White House South Lawn.
Though it’s still unknown if the exhaust system changes have completely reduced the possibility of harm to the White House grounds, the Marine Corps stated last year that the communication problems had been fixed.
For a number of years, Marine Helicopter Squadron One—which is in charge of running Marine One—has been using the VH-92 helicopters for security and staff transfers at the White House as well as test flights in and around Washington, D.C. With the delivery of the last VH-92A helicopter earlier this month, there are now 21 operational aircraft altogether, with two more helicopters reserved for testing. For 23 helicopters, the program’s overall cost came to almost $5 billion.
In comparison to its predecessors, the VH-3D and VH-60N types, the VH-92A helicopters, which are based on the commercially available Sikorsky S-92, provide a greater size and longer range, ushering in a new era in presidential air transport.
