Sikorsky's VH-92A “Patriot” officially became Marine One yesterday, transporting President Joe Biden from Chicago O’Hare International Airport (KORD) to a landing zone adjacent to the McCormick Place Convention Center during his visit to this year’s Democratic National Convention. This flight came five days after Sikorsky delivered the last of 23 of the modified S-92As to the Navy as part of Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1).
The VH-92A fleet is eventually slated to replace the Sikorsky VH-3D and VH-60N aircraft currently flying the HMX-1 mission. Some of those aircraft have been in service since the late 1970s. VH-92As have been in flight test since 2017, and while the aircraft was declared operational in 2021, its use by the President has been delayed due to what were described as issues related to its exhaust and secure communications systems. It is not known to what extent those issues have been resolved.
The current operational HMX-1 fleet consists of 10 VH-3D’s, six VH-60N’s, and nine VH-92A’s that support various missions assigned to HMX-1. Sikorsky helicopters have flown every U.S. president since 1957. During delivery ceremonies for the final program aircraft on August 14 in Owego, New York, the program manager for the presidential helicopter program (PMA-274)—Marine Corps Col. Alex Rumthun—praised the VH-92A for its ability to deliver increased performance and reduced maintenance costs compared to the legacy fleet.