Biden Takes Historic Flight on New Marine One Helicopter
CHICAGO — President Joe Biden made history on Monday by taking his inaugural flight on the advanced VH-92A helicopter, officially designated as Marine One. This milestone follows years of delays in the initiative to replace the aging helicopters used to transport the president and vice president.
Biden, after arriving in Air Force One, boarded the Sikorsky-built helicopter at O’Hare International Airport, which then flew him to Soldier Field, a location frequently utilized for presidential landings.
This flight signifies a critical achievement in a lengthy two-decade effort to modernize the Marine One fleet, which has relied on Vietnam-era technology since the 1970s. The initial push to acquire new helicopters began under the Bush administration to enhance communication and operational capabilities post-9/11. However, this initiative faced setbacks and was abandoned by the Obama administration due to significant cost overruns.
Subsequently, the Obama administration restarted the program, and the helicopter, referred to as "Patriot" by its manufacturer, made its debut during the Trump administration. The program encountered further delays due to issues with the onboard secure communications system, essential for confidential discussions and military decision-making in crises, and concerns over damage to the White House South Lawn.
The Marine Corps announced last year that the communication issues had been resolved, although clarifications on the modifications to the exhaust system, which previously posed threats to the White House grass, remain unclear.
Marine Helicopter Squadron One, responsible for operating these aircraft, has utilized the VH-92 helicopters for several years in various capacities, including test missions in the D.C. area and transporting White House personnel. With the final delivery of the VH-92A helicopters earlier this month, the program now boasts 21 operational aircraft and two dedicated to testing, at a total estimated cost of approximately $5 billion.
The new helicopters, derived from the commercially-available Sikorsky S-92 model, offer enhanced size and extended range compared to the outdated VH-3D and VH-60N variants.