President Joe Biden recently made what could be seen as his final major political appearance at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, arriving in a truly historic fashion—aboard the new generation of Marine One helicopters.
The Sikorsky VH-92A, which Biden used for his flight from O’Hare airport to Soldier Field, represents a significant evolution in presidential air transport. The story of this helicopter dates back to 2003, when the Department of Defense first sought to upgrade the aging fleet used for presidential travel. The VH-3Ds, which had been in service since 1974, and the VH-60Ns, introduced 14 years later, were due for replacement. In the aftermath of 9/11, the Bush administration pushed for a larger, faster helicopter with advanced communications capabilities.
However, the development process faced numerous delays, and an alternate helicopter model was initially selected for Marine One duties. This alternative project eventually proved too expensive, leading Sikorsky, which had been supplying presidential helicopters since 1957, to step in. The company adapted its civilian S-92 model into the more advanced VH-92A. In 2014, Sikorsky and the Department of Defense signed a contract for 23 of these modified helicopters, valued at $4.7 billion. The VH-92A, which weighs 27,700 pounds, is equipped with two General Electric CT7-8A6 turboshaft engines, an enhanced communications system, and can accommodate two pilots, a communications specialist, and 14 passengers.
Last week, the U.S. government formally accepted the final VH-92A helicopter at a handover ceremony. This milestone marked the completion of the fleet delivery, which began in 2021. Richard Benton, Sikorsky’s vice president and general manager, praised the occasion, emphasizing the strong and enduring partnership with the Marine Corps and the tailored solution provided for their critical missions.
Despite these advancements, there have been challenges that delayed the deployment of the new helicopter for presidential use. A 2018 Government Accountability Office report highlighted issues such as the helicopter damaging landing sites on the White House lawn and problems with its communication systems. The Patriot program committed to addressing these concerns. However, similar issues were reported again in 2022, though the VH-92A was eventually cleared for “all missions” a year later. Until this week, the new helicopters had been used only for transporting Secret Service agents and lower-level government officials, with the president, vice president, and cabinet members not yet permitted to travel aboard them.
The reason for this sudden change in policy remains unclear. An emailed statement from NAVAIR, the U.S. Navy department responsible for overseeing the VH-92A program, indicated that multiple government agencies were working towards a “successful transition” from the old VH-3D and VH-60N models to the new VH-92As. The statement emphasized that the transition was driven by specific events rather than a set timeline, seemingly unaware that the new Marine One was about to make its debut presidential flight in Chicago.
The complete timeline for phasing out the older helicopters and fully integrating the new Sikorsky fleet is still uncertain. Nonetheless, President Biden had the opportunity to experience the new Marine One, with several months remaining for presidential travel.
