President Biden Inaugurates New Marine One as Sikorsky Completes VH-92A Helicopter Deliveries.

President Joe Biden recently took his first flight aboard the new Marine One, marking a crucial step in the program to replace the aging presidential helicopters. On August 19, 2024, the new Marine One helicopter was used to transport President Biden from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport to Soldier Field, coinciding with his participation in the Democratic National Convention.
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Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) runs test flights of the new VH-92A over the south lawn of the White House on Sept. 22, 2018, Washington D.C. (Picture source: US DoD)

The Marine One, officially designated VH-92A Patriot, is part of the 23 helicopters recently delivered by Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, to the U.S. Marine Corps. The final delivery took place on August 14 during a ceremony at the company's Owego, New York, facility. The VH-92A replaces the aging helicopters that have transported U.S. presidents since the 1970s, including the VH-3D and VH-60N models, which have been in service since the Vietnam era.

The modernization program, which experienced numerous delays, was initially launched under the Bush administration to improve communication capabilities and mission efficiency after the September 11, 2001 attacks. However, this first effort was canceled during Barack Obama's presidency due to cost overruns. The program was later revived, leading to the development of the VH-92A Patriot, an adaptation of the commercial Sikorsky S-92 helicopter.

This new aircraft offers enhanced performance and payload capacity, along with improved crew coordination and communication systems. However, the development of the model faced technical challenges, including issues with secure communication systems and the helicopter's tendency to damage the White House South Lawn during landings. Although the communication problems have been resolved, it remains unclear whether modifications to the exhaust system have eliminated the risk to the White House grounds.

This new aircraft offers enhanced performance and payload capacity, along with improved crew coordination and communication systems (Picture source: US DoD)

Lieutenant General Bradford Gering, Deputy Commandant for Marine Corps Aviation, recognized this delivery as a major milestone in the history of presidential transport, emphasizing that the VH-92A Patriot provides enhanced capabilities for this critical mission. The Marine Corps plans to use 21 of these helicopters for presidential operations, while two others will be reserved for testing purposes. This fleet will ensure operational availability while allowing for maintenance and crew training.

The introduction of the VH-92A marks the conclusion of a process that began in May 2014 when the Navy awarded Sikorsky a contract to develop this next-generation presidential helicopter. The Marine Corps, in collaboration with the White House Military Office and Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1), is now preparing for a smooth transition to this new fleet. The current HMX-1 fleet, which still includes VH-3D and VH-60N models, will gradually be replaced by the new VH-92A helicopters.

The delivery of these helicopters reaffirms Sikorsky's commitment to providing secure and reliable air transport for every U.S. president since 1957. The VH-92A Patriot, with its iconic green and white livery, continues this tradition while offering significant improvements in safety, performance, and maintenance.