Hello everyone! If your into aviation, you for sure recognize Air Force one. The beautiful blue 747 tasked with transporting the leader of the free world, press, family, the invited, and their secret service detail. However, you might not be aware of the other ways the P.O.T.U.S. (President of the United States) is transported. And if you aren’t, welp, it’s a really interesting process. To sum it up, there are 3 main forms of transport. By plane, either on the modified 747-200, or the VPOTUS’s modified 757-200. By motorcade, or by helicopter, on Marine One, either a VH-3D Sea King for long flights, or VH-60 for short trips. This was the case for decades, until the squadron (HMX-1) and the White House has decided to slowly phase out these in exchange for VH-92s, modified Sikorsky 92s.
Before we go any further, it should be mentioned the architecture of a presidential trip. For example. A commonly used trip is from the White House, to the United Nations building in Manhattan, New York City. Days before, c-17s and sometimes c-5s will carry a few helicopters to JFK. (Though sometimes they fly here themselves). The helicopters brought are two possible marine ones, one helicopter to carry the president, and one an identical decoy. With them are three V-22 ospreys for escorting purposes, to carry press, secret service, and other important people following the president. On the day of arrival, the NYPD will send out a helicopter to scan the runway, his route, and other things for threats. This happens up until about 10 minutes of the presidents arrival. Back in DC, the president (usually) gets on marine one (separate set then the one in nyc), where he departs from the south lawn, to Joint Base Andrews. Quickly he boards Air Force one… Once he lands in Air Force One in JFK, his 5 helicopters will fly him and others
to the JRB heliport in Manhattan, where his motorcade then takes him on the short journey to the United Nations building. When you think about it together, it really isn’t complicated.
Take note that I mentioned the helicopters operating directly on the south lawn. For the new VH-92, this is a huge issue. It has very powerful rotor wash, and engine… which produces high amounts of heat, far more then any other helicopter ever used as Marine One. This actually BURNED the grass of the south lawn at the White House, which isn’t something you want to happen. Sadly, it bas been decided that it won’t be aloud to land on grass… of anywhere. Last night, the president was here in New York City… for once, he was rarely not landing at the JRB heliport… rather a grass field in Staten Island for a thanksgiving event. Because of this, his old sea kings had to be used… which I enjoyed seeing since I probably won’t anymore. So, for trips away from the White House, the president will get to use the new VH-92… but for those who live in DC, you’ll be stuck with his old, and beautiful sea kings until a solution can be found. Thanks for reading!
The photos down below is one of the two Sea Kings, and the V-22 ospreys behind.
Credits: Me
