It seems like presidents, vice presidents, and other top officials in the United States have been flying helicopters forever. After all, how familiar are we with the image of a giant helicopter taking off from the White House lawn? In fact, they've only been doing it since 1957, and the number of helicopters used since then isn't all that great.
The U.S. commander-in-chief's helicopter transportation needs are currently handled by several types of helicopters. First, there's the VH-3D based on the Sea King (ten of which are currently in service), and then the VH-60N based on the Black Hawk (six in operation currently). For some time, the United States Marine Corps (USMC), which operates this transport for the president, has been stocked with something called the VH-92A Patriot.
The Patriot is set to replace the other two presidential helicopters in the coming years. It was selected in 2014 from the inventory of helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky, which had to build a total of 23 to complete its program of record.
And that's exactly what happened this week, when the company delivered the 23rd and final presidential helicopter to the Marines.
The VH-92A is based on the S-92 medium-lift twin-engine aircraft introduced in 1998 and modified at Sikorsky's facilities in Owego, New York, and Stratford, Connecticut.
In its official guise, the aircraft is powered by two General Electric turboshaft engines and can reach speeds of 190 mph (306 km/h). It requires four people to fly, including the pilot and co-pilot, communications operator, and crew chief.
The Patriot is expected to offer greater performance and payload capacity than the current VH-3D and VH-60N, but also provide “improved crew coordination systems and communications capabilities.”
The Sikorsky aircraft can take off with a weight of 27,700 pounds (over 12.5 tons) and can climb to altitudes of 14,000 feet (4,300 meters). The maximum distance it can travel from its point of origin without in-flight refueling is 620 miles (almost 1,000 km).
The Army has ordered 23 of them because it must always be ready to carry out personnel transport missions. Only 21 of these helicopters will enter operational service (nine are already in use), while the remaining two, designated CH-92A, will be used for testing and training purposes.
The USMC is now preparing to transition the fleet operated by Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1), the boys and girls tasked with transporting the president, from older aircraft types to new ones.
The Patriots are expected to fly in service of the POTUS for several decades before needing to be replaced. As usual, the helicopters will wear the white and green livery that earned them the nickname White Top.