Professional Pilot, March 2016

Arguably the most recognized helicopter in the country the Sikorsky VH3D Sea King helicopter has served US Presidents since 1974 VH60N aircraft were added to the squadron 1987 and the helicopters have seen continuous improvements With the current aircraft nearing the end of their useful life the new Sikorsky VH92A stands ready to continue the Presidential legacy PROFESSIONAL PILOT March 2016 85 Where it all started President Eisenhower is credited as being the 1st US President to fly in a military helicopter While vacationing in Rhode Island on July 12 1957 he needed to return to Washington DC quickly so he began the first part of his trip back to DC in a Marine helicopter Both the Army and Marines jointly provided executive helicopter service to the President in the beginning Army One from Ft Belvoir VA and Marine One from Quantico VA with HMX 1 Executive Army and Marine flight units were both operating in 1958 with the primary mission to evacuate the President and his family in an emergency and its secondary mission far more apparent was to provide executive transport for the President and other visiting dignitaries President Eisenhower routinely used helicopters to travel between Camp David his Gettysburg PA farm and Washington DC Later all the other US Presidents followed suit in the use of helos Initially the helicopter inventory consisted of 2 Bell UH13Js but these were soon replaced with Sikorsky CH34 Choctaws which were configured for the Presidential mission and redesignated as the VH34 In 1963 the VH34 was replaced with the Sikorsky CH3 Sea King and again the aircraft were reconfigured and redesignated the VH3 In July 1976 the Army Executive Flight Detachment stood down leaving the prestigious job of Presidential helicopter transport to the proud men and women of HMX 1 The last US President to fly on US Army One was President Gerald Ford And Marine One has had the distinct privilege of transporting the US Commander in Chief ever since Tools of the trade Aircraft used for the executive mission have recently changed And more change is on the horizon HMX 1 divides all flight operations into 2 categories green side and white side Information on White side operations is very limited and rightly so Operational aircraft in this category include Sea Kings and White Hawks These aircraft have more antennas and bulges than most ISR aircraft but fully expected with the job these aircraft are asked to perform Though HMX 1 moved into its current hangar complex a few years ago they maintain the same separation between green and white side operations The other half of the hangar houses administrative offices and green side aircraft now the MV22 Osprey Green side helicopters of the past have included Sikorsky CH53E Super Stallions and Boeing CH46 Phrogs The US Marine Corps recently retired the last Phrog from active service at a ceremony at the Udvar Hazy Air and Space Museum at the Washington Dulles Airport in Chantilly VA MV22 Ospreys have replaced all green side helicopters and support the white side by transporting all personnel used to move the President which includes Secret Service maintenance media and various other support personnel When not supporting the President the green side has an additional mission of VIP transport including cabinet members the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and foreign dignitaries Additional missions for HMX 1 include training support on Quantico itself and other missions directed by the Commandant of the Marine Corps Osprey aircraft used by HMX 1 arrived in May 2013 sporting a shiny green paint scheme with United States of America emblazoned on each side Features not found in the standard Marine Osprey include black carpet seat and wall coverings to hide the wires and fluid lines throughout the aircraft and the large unit logo proudly secured to the ramp as you enter the aircraft The VIP features are purely cosmetic and can easily be removed in minutes if the situation warrants it Glass and innovation are present throughout the cockpit of the Osprey with numerous glass displays and soft keys for multifunctional inputs The MV22 certainly provides capabilities that traditional helicopters cant With aerial refueling and a top speed of 280 kts it can cover a lot of ground quickly Though it is not pressurized the MV22 can cruise at 25000 ft comfortably and land in small helicopter landing zones as well Given the ability to land on the Pentagons helipad and then cruise at 280 kts to its destination It is clear why the Marines chose the Osprey Photo courtesy White House