Marine One tour

[e551098]

Family memeber is a Capt who is assigned to the HMX-1 unit out of Quantico. Went down there for a tour today of the Heli's. As expected very tight security and all pictures had to be approved! Got to see inside and out though pictures were limited to outside and certain things not allowed to be photographed. Very cool machine!

 

[tigger]

My brother in law Brian Haney was with that unite he was killed on may 19 1993 when one of the helicopters crashed on a test flight. everyone on bord was killed.

 

[e551098]

Yes the "x" in HMX-1 does designate experimental. This unit is more known publicly for their presidential duties but they are involved in testing/development as well.

 

[maddawg308]

I reckon the insides contain all sorts of security and protection-related items that the heads of HMX-1 are responsible for maintaining secrecy on. Very cool pics though, not a couple birds you see everyday.

The VH-3 Sea King is almost a 50 year old design, it's hauled presidents since the Kennedy Administration. There is a program to replace both the VH-3 and the VH-60 Whitehawk as Marine One, called the VXX program, but due to costs, it has been slowed down a bit due to the estimate $11 billion cost of 22 or so aircraft ($400 million each, didn't realize installation of teleprompters cost that much). There is some talk of replacing the current Marine One aircraft with modified V-22 Ospreys or CH-47 Chinooks (the latter of which is also a 50-year-old design. Guess you can't replace perfection.

 

[e551098]

I reckon the insides contain all sorts of security and protection-related items that the heads of HMX-1 are responsible for maintaining secrecy on. Very cool pics though, not a couple birds you see everyday.

The VH-3 Sea King is almost a 50 year old design, it's hauled presidents since the Kennedy Administration. There is a program to replace both the VH-3 and the VH-60 Whitehawk as Marine One, called the VXX program, but due to costs, it has been slowed down a bit due to the estimate $11 billion cost of 22 or so aircraft ($400 million each, didn't realize installation of teleprompters cost that much). There is some talk of replacing the current Marine One aircraft with modified V-22 Ospreys or CH-47 Chinooks (the latter of which is also a 50-year-old design. Guess you can't replace perfection.

We were allowed to see the cockpit and move around inside (just no pictures) honestly something could of been right in front of me and I wouldn’t of known it as I have no military background at all. However the chaff/flare controls were obvious but as pointed out by one of the escorts this is on almost every fleet piece of equipment.

Yes the VH-3 Sea King in the pictures below dated to the 50's and has had every president since Eisenhower in it, saw the seat too......

 

[Nonotagain]

I reckon the insides contain all sorts of security and protection-related items that the heads of HMX-1 are responsible for maintaining secrecy on. Very cool pics though, not a couple birds you see everyday.

The VH-3 Sea King is almost a 50 year old design, it's hauled presidents since the Kennedy Administration. There is a program to replace both the VH-3 and the VH-60 Whitehawk as Marine One, called the VXX program, but due to costs, it has been slowed down a bit due to the estimate $11 billion cost of 22 or so aircraft ($400 million each, didn't realize installation of teleprompters cost that much). There is some talk of replacing the current Marine One aircraft with modified V-22 Ospreys or CH-47 Chinooks (the latter of which is also a 50-year-old design. Guess you can't replace perfection.

The knuckleheads in government changed the mission requirements so many times that they blew the budget and the program was cancelled when the per bird price approached $400M each.

Work Halted on Presidential Helicopter - Defense News

Sikorsky had built every presidental helicopter since they started using rotor craft.

After the cancellation of the USA 101 program as it was known, it appears now two years later that Boeing has partnered with Augusta to built almost the same bird, though in the USA.

Boeing to compete for new presidential helicopter contract with license purchase - TheHill.com

 

[tigger]

Yes the "x" in HMX-1 does designate experimental. This unit is more known publicly for their presidential duties but they are involved in testing/development as well.

My brother in law was with the presidential detatchment.

 

[bratpackdad]

Great pics thanks for posting! Yes, there are alot of new gizmos on the inside; but more importantly on the outside. I see three things in your pics that are very important, and shouldn't be photographed with high resolution.

 

[Srjeeper]

The knuckleheads in government changed the mission requirements so many times that they blew the budget and the program was cancelled when the per bird price approached $400M each.

According to WickiLeaks, it was the 'Watermellon Dispenser' that put it over the top.

 

[Oldvw2]

I had the privelage of working with some of the men of HMX-1 in 2007 when Pres. Bush visited the facility I work at. The POTUS is in very good hands with them.

The preps behind a VIP visit are always a lot of work but the rewards are great too. One of the green tops overtemped slightly while trying to lift out of the muddy field and had to wait for awhile so a lot of my coworkers were able to visit with the aircrew and tour the inside. The picture shows two of the green tops practicing prior to the visit.

 

[Heavysteven]

Great pics thanks for posting! Yes, there are alot of new gizmos on the inside; but more importantly on the outside. I see three things in your pics that are very important, and shouldn't be photographed with high resolution.

I don't see it. So what am I missing?

Really cool pictures though, thanks for posting.