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Old 10-24-2009, 06:05 AM
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Default RE: Marine Helicopters



Aircraft

A VH-3D Sea King flying over Washington, D.C.


The first official presidential helicopter was the VH-34 Choctaw, beginning operations in September 1957, and replaced by the VH-3A beginning in 1962. In the late 1970s, the VH-3As were retired and replaced by the upgraded VH-3D. The current fleet is made up of the VH-3 Sea King and the VH-60N "WhiteHawk", which entered service with the squadron in 1988.



The V designates the aircraft as configured for use by VIPs. The Executive Flight Detachment is the only Marine Corps unit to operate these Sikorsky aircraft. The VH-3D is capable of transporting 14 passengers while the VH-60N seats 11 passengers. Both helicopters require a pilot, copilot and crewchief and the VH-60N's crew also includes a communications systems operator. Because the VH-60N folds easily for loading into an Air Force C-5 Galaxy or a C-17 Globemaster III it is ideal for overseas assignments. The Marines can prepare a VH-60N for a C-5 load in less than two hours<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-EFD_4-4">[5]</sup>.



Due to the uniqueness of the VH platforms, all pilots and maintenance personnel assigned are trained by Sikorsky factory-trained instructors. Depending on the Military Occupational Specialty, these schools range from 1 to 5 months and are taught at the squadron. Sikorsky technical representatives then provide a watchful eye as the Marines operate and maintain the helicopters<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-EFD_4-5">[5]</sup>.



HMX-1 was scheduled to receive 23 new Lockheed Martin VH-71 Kestrel helicopters to replace the current fleet. However, in April 2009, it was announced that the Kestrel program was no longer included in the Defense budget.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-VH71hold_6-0">[7]</sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-VH71canc_7-0">[8]</sup>



HMX-1 also operates a small number of CH-53E Super Stallions and CH-46 Sea Knights for utility purposes, and will be replaced with CH-53Ks and MV-22B Ospreys, respectively, by 2017.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2007_Air_Plan_8-0">[9]</sup> These aircraft also share the HMX-1 dark green paint scheme.





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