Sikorsky | ||||||||||||
VH-3 Sea King
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Photo: Robert
Deering 4/18/2015 National Museum of Naval Aviation NAS Pensacola (NPA) Pensacola, Florida |
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Modified from a Sikorsky H-3 Sea King
antisubmarine helicopter, this VH-3 (above) flew
Presidents Nixon and Ford during the 1970s
as part of the Marine Corps' mission to
provide short-range helicopter
transportation to the President. It was
restored by the Sabreliner Corporation and
placed on display in August 2011.
Though hunting enemy submarines was the
prime reason for its procurement, the Sea
King's outstanding performance capabilities
prompted its adaptation to other missions.
One of these was executive transport, for
which the Navy procured eight VH-3A versions
of the Sea King. Luxuriously outfitted with
carpeting, radio telephones, a wet bar, and
toilet facility, the aircraft also were
extensively soundproofed and armored, with
special protection provided for the
aircraft's electrical system and flight
controls. Self-sealing fuel tanks and
energy-absorbing landing gear and seats
improved crash survivability. As executive
transports, the aircraft most famously
served in the Executive Flight Detachment of
Marine Helicopter Squadron (HMX) 1,
transporting the President of the United
States and other high-ranking government
officials.
In 1966, the Museum's aircraft (Bureau
Number 150613) was assigned to HMX-1 at
Quantico, Virginia, but not until January
1972 did it begin its service with the
squadron's Executive Flight Detachment. It
flew in this capacity, carrying the call
sign "Marine One" when the
Commander-in-Chief was on board, until 1975,
which included parts of the administrations
of Presidents Richard M. Nixon and Gerald R.
Ford. Transferred to the Navy, the aircraft
finished its service with Helicopter Combat
Support Squadron (HC) 2 in 2003, at which
time it was transferred to the Museum. VH-3A versions of the Sea King like the aircraft on display were replaced by improved VH-3D versions of the Sea King in 1976. These continue to operate today. The VH-3A below was originally a US Army helicopter aka Army One. Between 1957 and 1976 both the US Army and US Marine Corps conducted presidential and executive transport duties and the moniker would change depending on which service was flying the President. In 1967 this aircraft was transferred to the US Marine Corps at HMX-1 thus becoming Marine One and flew President Lyndon B. Johnson until 1968 (he was in office from 1963 to 1969). The helicopter resumed this role again between 1974 and 1976 for President Gerald Ford (in office from 1974 to 1977). President Reagan flew in a similar VH-3A. |
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Photo: Robert Deering 6/9/2018 Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum Simi Valley, California |
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