Marine One is a call sign from every United States Marine Corps plane carrying the President of the United States. It usually shows a helicopter operated by Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1 "Nighthawks"), either Sikorsky VH-3D Sea King or newer, smaller VH-60N "White Hawk". Both helicopters are called "White Tops" because of the paint job they carry. Every Marine Corps plane carrying the Vice President has a call mark Two Marines .
Video Marine One
Histori
The first use of helicopters to transport the President was in 1957, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower traveled at Bell UH-13J Sioux. The president needs a quick way to reach his summer home in Pennsylvania, because Air Force One can not land at the White House or at summer homes. Eisenhower instructed his staff to look for alternative modes of transportation and the Seahorse Sikorsky UH-34 helicopter was commissioned. Early planes did not have "creature comforts" found in their modern successors, such as air conditioning and toilets for use in flight.
In 1958, H-13 was replaced by Sikorsky H-34, and in 1961 by VH-3A. Not long after the presidential mode of transportation was introduced, the presidential aides asked the Marine Corps to look to the South Lawn White House as a helicopter landing zone. Plenty of space is present, and protocols are established. Until 1976, the Marine Corps shared the responsibility of helicopter transport to the President with the United States Army. Military helicopters use the Army One call sign when the president is on board.
VH-3D entered service in 1978. VH-60N began operating in 1987 and has been serving alongside VH-3D. Improvements have been made to both types of helicopters since their introduction to take advantage of technological developments as well as to meet the requirements of new missions. However, around 2001, it was clear that so much additional weight had been added to the helicopter that mission capability was being reduced and some new improvements could be made.
In 2009, there were 11 VH-3D and eight VH-60N that served as Presidential/VIP helicopters. On July 16, 2009, Marine One flew with female crew for the first time. This is also the last flight of Major Jennifer Grieves, who was the first female pilot to fly the President.
Marine One has not been the subject of any kind of accident or attack until 2009. However, in 2006, President George W. Bush climbed into Marine One with his press secretary who left, and the ignition key on the Marine One engine failed. The President was forced out of the helicopter and left the White House in the car.
Development of replacement helicopters
The September 11 attacks in the US led to widespread agreement that the One Marine helicopter fleet required significant improvements to its communications, transportation and security systems. But this can not be done because the weight has been added to the plane.
In April 2002, the Department of Defense (DOD) initiated the VXX program to develop a new president/VIP helicopter transport system. The helicopter program was assigned to the US Navy. 2011 delivery date has been determined. In November 2002, the White House called on the Minister of Defense to accelerate the development of a new aircraft, and DOD said it would have a new aircraft ready by the end of 2008. To do so, DOD asked the company to bid on aircraft designs to begin development and production at the same time.
Specifications for new aircraft are kept confidential. However, publications and industry testimony at congressional briefings revealed that the 64-foot (20 m) helicopter, carrying 14 passengers, could carry several thousand pounds of luggage and equipment, and have a greater range than VH-3D or VH-60N. Helicopter defense capabilities include radar jamming systems and fraud to counter anti-aircraft missiles, and electronic lock hardening of nuclear electromagnetic pulses. It also includes an encrypted telecommunication and videoconferencing system.
Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky Aircraft compete against each other for contracts. Lockheed partnered with AgustaWestland, a joint British and Italian aircraft company, and offered the AgustaWestland AW101 version. Sikorsky proposes to use the S-92. The Navy awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin in January 2005, to develop and build 28 helicopters. The helicopter was named VH-71 Kestrel. Five of the less sophisticated VH-71 versions for delivery in 2010, with 23 enhanced versions for delivery by 2015. The goal was to stop all VH-3D and VH-60N along with the initial five VHs of 71 at the time, leaving the fleet Sea One with 23 helicopters.
As of March 2008, the $ 28000000 cost of 28 helicopters has skyrocketed to $ 11.2 billion. Congressmen were surprised to find that any VH-71 would cost $ 400 million - more than one Air Force One Boeing VC-25. Lockheed Martin blamed the Navy for cost swelling, saying that more than 1,900 additional requirements were added to the project after the contract was signed. The Navy said no additional requirements were added. It blames having to redesign VH-71 to Navy standards, and an incomplete understanding by the Navy and Lockheed Martin about how much retrofit civilian aircraft will need to meet White House specifications.
In June 2009, the VH-71 program was canceled due to the cost swelling. By this time, cost estimates have ballooned to over $ 13 billion. The Government Accountability Office issued a report in March 2011 pointing to three sources for cost swelling. First, asking for development at the same time as production led to extensive retrofit of the model being built. Second, a full-scale review of system requirements does not occur until four months after production begins. It was later discovered that the VH-71 design was unable to meet the system requirements. Thirdly, DOD and the White House are calling for combat capability and excessive communication.
Not long after the cancellation of the program, the Marine Corps started the program again. This time, instead of development and production running simultaneously, the Corps creates a Preliminary Capability Document (ICD) that clearly outlines the aircraft's requirements. DOD approved ICD in August 2009, calling it the VXX Helicopter Replacement Program. In February 2010, the Navy asked the private industry to input for Alternative Analysis (AOA) to meet the needs of the aircraft mission. Among the options the Navy advised was to buy one plane, but to develop two versions on it. The second option proposed by AOA is to purchase two different planes - one "civil" version with bathroom, executive suite, and kitchen, and one "military" version with complete command and control capabilities. AOA attracts interest from more than two companies, unlike the previous competition. These include Boeing, who told the press that the CH-47 Chinook or Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey can meet AOA requirements. Because AOA ponders a much longer development and production process, the Navy says it intends to spend $ 500 million to keep VH-3D and VH-60 flying. The company also said it can adapt VH-71, if the Navy and Marine Corps want to continue with it as a base plane.
In July 2013, DOD waived the requirement that the company develop a prototype. Departmental analysis shows that the cost of making a prototype is unlikely to yield any benefit. The department also said that it continues with the development of VXX using aircraft in production with a proven system. The draft proposal request was released on November 23, 2012.
In August 2013, all interested companies, including Northrop Grumman-AgustaWestland and Bell-Boeing, have withdrawn from the VXX bidding process except Sikorsky Aircraft. Sikorsky has partnered with Lockheed Martin, and says it was intended to use the S-92 as a base aircraft. The new 2020 deadline was set up for the 23-helicopter fleet to be operational. On May 7, 2014 the Navy gave the Sikorsky Aircraft contract worth 1.24 billion dollars to build six presidential helicopters. 21 helicopter fleets are anticipated in 2023.
Maps Marine One
Current operation
Marine One is sometimes the preferred alternative to the motorcade, which can be expensive and difficult logically. The controlled environment of a helicopter also adds to the safety factor. Marine One is also used to transport senior cabinet staff and foreign officials. HMX-1 operates a total of 35 helicopters of four different types in 2009.
More than 800 Marines oversee the operation of the Sea One fleet, based at MCAF Quantico, Virginia, with additional operating locations at Anacostia Naval Support Facility in the District of Columbia, but more often seen in action at the South Lawn of the White House or at Andrews Joint Base Naval Air Facility in Maryland. At Andrews, it is sometimes used to connect to Air Force One for longer trips. Marine One is encountered on the ground by at least one marine in full uniform (most often two, with one person acting as armed guard). According to the story told by Bruce Babbitt, President Clinton, in his final days at the office, while flying over and landing in a remote area near the Grand Canyon, found a Marine waiting on a rock ready to salute him. Marine pilots flying in Marine One are not wearing regular flight wear during the flight, but Blue Marine Dress Charlie/Delta uniforms.
As a security measure, Marine One always flies in groups of as many as five identical helicopters. One helicopter takes the President, while the others serve as bait. After take-off this helicopter shifts in the formation to obscure the location of the President. This has been called a presidential shell game. Marine One is also equipped with standard military anti-missile counters such as flares to counter heat-seeking missiles and husks to fight radar missiles, as well as AN/ALQ-144A infrared countermeasures. To increase the safety of Marine One, every HMX-1 member must pass a Yankee White background check before touching the helicopter used for the presidential journey.
Marine One is transported by C-17 Globemaster or C-5 Galaxy military transport aircraft (such as presidential limos) wherever the President travels, both in the US and abroad. At the presidential inauguration, the Marines offered the last President of the last flight from the Capitol to the Joint Base of Andrews.
See also
- State Presidential Car
Note
References
Brent, P. T. (February 2009). "" Marine One "- Welcome." Leatherneck Magazine . Quantico, Virginia: Marine Corps Association (February 2009): 18-21. Archived from the original on October 11, 2009 . Retrieved April 4 2009 .
External links
- One Sea article in the Popular Science magazine
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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