Marine One, the President’s Helicopter, Boggles the Mind
Everyone knows about Air Force One — there was even a movie named after it — but what about Marine One, the specially built helicopter that serves as the president’s traffic-dodger and escape vehicle?
As it turns out, it’s one of the most awe-inspiring, badass helicopters on earth.
Marine One Features
It can cruise at a breezy 150 miles per hour, and can continue flying even if one of its three engines fail. It has ballistic armor, advanced missile warning systems and anti-missile defenses. The interior is so quiet that passengers can speak in a normal tone of voice.
No matter where in the world it lands, the president is greeted, and saluted, by a Marine. No matter where it flies, it’s accompanied by an identical decoy — just like Air Force One.
History of Marine One
Marine One is actually many helicopters — currently eleven Sikorsky VH-3Ds and eight Sikorsky VH-60Ns — piloted by Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1), a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron responsible for the transportation of the President of the United States, Vice President and other heads of state.
The first time a helicopter transported the President was in 1957 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower flew on a Bell UH-13J Sioux, which was soon replaced by a Sikorsky UH-34 Seahorse.
Sikorsky’s New Marine One to be Operational 2020
Sikorsky’s VH-92 is set to take up the mantle of Marine One in 2020.
The biggest difference between the VH-92A and its predecessors is its three ventral fairings for the helicopter’s Directional Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) system — the laser-based infrared-guided missile blinding system that is the critical defensive measure aboard Air Force One, Marine One, and other American military aircraft.
The U.S. Navy plans to buy 23 VH-92As, 21 of which will go into HMX-1.
Procure from Aerospace Manufacturing
Aerospace Manufacturing is a AS9100 and ISO:9001 accredited manufacturer of high strength, close tolerance aerospace metric fasteners and standard fasteners.
Our clientele includes industry leading OEM Aerospace and Defense contractors and organizations including Bombardier, DLA, NASA, U.S. Navy, General Electric, Lockheed Martin, NAVICP, and Sikorsky.
Search our expansive inventory or launch your Custom Quote today!