Biden takes first ride in new Marine One as Sikorsky wraps delivery

The U.S. Marine Corps Receives Final Batch of VH-92A Patriot Helicopters

The U.S. Marine Corps received the final batch of its 23 new VH-92A Patriot presidential transport helicopters last week, an air frame most famously known as Marine One when carrying America’s commander-in-chief.

Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, delivered the final VH-92A Patriot helicopter in a ceremony at the company’s Owego, N.Y., facility on Aug. 14, Lockheed and Naval Air Systems Command, or NAVAIR, said Monday.

“This delivery represents a significant milestone and new chapter in the rich, 67-year history of Marines providing helicopter transport of the president of the United States,” Lt. Gen. Bradford Gering, the Marine Corps’ deputy commandant for aviation, said in a statement. “The VH-92A Patriot brings increased capabilities for this no-fail mission supporting the commander-in-chief around the world.”

The VH-92A carries the same iconic dark green and white livery as past Marine One helicopters, and will carry the same “White Top” nickname as the older ones.

President Biden’s First Flight Aboard the VH-92A Patriot

President Joe Biden on Monday took his first flight aboard the newest Marine One after years of delays to the program to replace the aging aircraft that carry the president and vice president.

Biden boarded the helicopter after arriving on Air Force One in Chicago where he is speak Monday evening at the Democratic National Convention. The maiden presidential voyage carried him from O’Hare International Airport to the parking lot of Chicago’s Soldier Field, often used as a landing zone for presidential travel.

It marked a crucial milestone in a two-decade-long process to replace the Vietnam-era helicopters that have been in use carrying presidents, in some cases, since the 1970s.

Advancements and Features of the VH-92A Patriot

An initial effort to purchase new helicopters was kicked off by the Bush administration in an effort to improve communications and mission capabilities in the post-September 11, 2001 environment, but it was scrapped by President Barack Obama after rampant cost overruns.

NAVAIR said the new helicopters will provide better performance and be able to carry a greater payload than the VH-3D and VH-60N, while sporting improved crew coordination and communication systems.

Two of the 23 VH-92A helicopters will be used for testing, NAVAIR said, and the rest will be used for operations. This will provide enough helicopters to transport the president, undergo necessary maintenance and allow pilots and aircrew to train.

The new program was started by the Obama administration, and the helicopter, branded the “Patriot” by its manufacturer, made its public debut during the Trump administration. But issues with the secure communications system on board — required so that the president can carry out classified conversations and make military decisions in an emergency — as well as a tendency to scorch the White House South Lawn led to years of delays to the program.

The Marine Corps reported last year that the communications issues had been resolved, but it was not clear whether modifications to the exhaust system have eliminated the threat to the White House grass.

The Marines have been using the VH-92 helicopters for several years in regular service, including test flights around Washington, D.C. and to carry White House staff and security personnel.

The new helicopters are based on the commercially-available Sikorsky S-92 and are larger and have longer range than the older VH-3D and VH-60N models.

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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The article discusses the delivery of new VH-92A Patriot presidential transport helicopters to the U.S. Marine Corps. This is connected to SDG 9, which focuses on promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization and fostering innovation. The development and delivery of these helicopters represent advancements in the aerospace industry and technology innovation.

The article also mentions the use of the helicopters for presidential travel and the landing of Marine One in Chicago’s Soldier Field. This is connected to SDG 11, which aims to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. The use of the helicopters for presidential travel contributes to efficient and safe transportation in urban areas.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure
• SDG 9.5: Enhance scientific research and upgrade technological capabilities
• SDG 11.2: Provide access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems

The delivery of the VH-92A Patriot helicopters contributes to achieving SDG 9.1 by providing the Marine Corps with reliable and resilient infrastructure in the form of advanced transport helicopters. These helicopters are built with improved capabilities and technology, aligning with SDG 9.5’s target of enhancing scientific research and upgrading technological capabilities.

The use of the helicopters for presidential travel supports SDG 11.2 by providing access to safe and sustainable transport systems for the president and vice president.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of new VH-92A Patriot helicopters delivered
• Improved performance and payload capacity compared to previous helicopter models
• Enhanced crew coordination and communication systems
• Successful resolution of communications issues
• Elimination of exhaust system-related threats to the White House South Lawn

The number of new VH-92A Patriot helicopters delivered can be used as an indicator to measure progress towards achieving SDG 9.1 and SDG 9.5. The improved performance and payload capacity of these helicopters, as well as the enhanced crew coordination and communication systems, can also be indicators of progress towards the targets under SDG 9.

The successful resolution of communications issues and the elimination of exhaust system-related threats to the White House South Lawn are indicators of progress towards ensuring safe and sustainable transport systems, as targeted by SDG 11.2.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: defensenews.com