Marine One - Marine Helicopter Squadron One-Presidential Transport (2020)-Revised

 

Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1)
HMX-1 Insignia
Type of Activity	Presidential Transport
Location
Location	Worldwide
Date of Activity	Dec 1947-Present
Coordinates	38°53'51.2"N 77°02'20.9"W

On July 12, 1957, Dwight D. Eisenhower becomes the first president to ride in the newest advance in aviation technology: the helicopter.

Organized 1 December 1947, at Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia, Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) was established as an experimental unit tasked with testing and evaluating military helicopters when rotary wing flight was still in its infancy.

Although experimental military helicopters had been tested since 1947, it was not until 10 years later that a president considered using the new machine for short, official trips to and from the White House.

Major Barrett departs the White House with President Eisenhower on July 12, 1957 for Camp David.

During his second term, Eisenhower used a Bell UH-13J Sioux to fly to the presidential retreat at Camp David and to his farm in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

September of 1957 marked the beginning of an additional mission which made the Squadron unique. While vacationing in Newport , Rhode Island, President Dwight D. Eisenhower was required to return to the Capital on short notice. He flew the first portion of that trip, from Newport to Naval Air Station Quonset Point, aboard an HMX-1 UH-34, thus marking the first time that an American President had flown in a Marine helicopter. With that first flight, President Eisenhower realized the usefulness of the helicopter and continued to fly with HMX-1 for the remainder of his term. Eisenhower suggested the idea to the Secret Service, which approved of the new mode of transportation, seeing it as safer and more efficient than the traditional limousine motorcade. The HMX-1 Nighthawks squadron put into the president’s service was initially administered jointly by the Army and the Marine Corps. 

                                                 

Army H-34C of the Executive Flight Detachment and Marine HUS-1 of HMX-1

Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev’s 1959 visit to the United States was off to a rocky start before President Dwight D. Eisenhower offered an impromptu tour of Washington, D.C., in one of his new whirly-birds. The premier was so impressed that he made a point of ordering his own helicopters to use back home.

                                               

 Soviet Premier Khrushchev waiting departure with President Eisenhower, summer, 1958

According to the White House’s Military Office, presidents since Eisenhower have used the Sikorsky VH-3D, otherwise known as a Sea King, for travel both in the continental United States and abroad. Most presidential helicopter flights depart and arrive from the White House’s south lawn.

During its presidential service, the helicopter was known either as Marine One or Army One, depending on whether Marine or Army pilots were operating the craft. The helicopter, with seats for sixteen, has a seat reserved for the president and the first lady, and single, smaller seats for the two Secret Service agents who always flew with the presidential party. Wherever the helicopter carrying a US President flies, it is met on the ground by at least one soldier in full dress uniform.

Army One was the callsign of any United States Army aircraft carrying the President of the United States. From 1957 until 1976, this was usually an Army helicopter transporting the President. Prior to 1976, responsibility for helicopter transportation of the President was divided between the Army and the U.S. Marine Corps until the Marine Corps was given the sole responsibility of transporting the President by helicopter. In 1976 President Jimmy Carter, as a cost cutting move, disbanded the Army’s Executive Flight Detachment and the Marine Corps Helicopter Squadron One took over all helicopter operations.

Since 1976 the official presidential helicopter has always been called Marine One, just as the official presidential airplane is always referred to as Air Force One. Marine One and a second decoy helicopter now accompany Air Force One on all presidential trips.

Having established a record of safety and reliability, HMX-1 today continues to provide helicopter transportation for the President and Vice President of the United States as well as for Cabinet members and foreign dignitaries as authorized by the Director of the White House Military Office.

                                   

Marine One Sikorsky VH-3D landing on the south lawn

The Squadron also supports the President on overseas visits and has operated in over fifteen foreign countries. "Marine One," the President's helicopter, has landed at such distant and exotic places as England's Windsor Castle, Akasaka Palace in Tokyo, Japan, Bolivar Square in Bogota, Colombia, and even in the Demilitarized Zone of South Korea. 

Because HMX-1 continues to function as an experimental Squadron as it did in 1947, many of the same pilots who fly the President also test and evaluate the latest Marine Corps helicopter  systems and develop tactics and doctrine for their use.

The critical nature of these missions requires that only highly qualified and experienced pilots fly HMX-1 aircraft. For assignment to HMX-1, all officers are carefully screened both for aeronautical ability and for superior military performance. Each officer must also have completed a significant amount of training within the Squadron as a copilot prior to becoming a White House Helicopter Aircraft Commander. Crew chiefs and other maintenance personnel are also selected for assignment to HMX-1 based on exceptional performance and integrity while assigned to squadrons of the Fleet Marine Force.

The helicopters that these exceptional Marines fly are the finest and most  meticulously maintained in the world. The foremost of these is the Sikorsky VH-3D  (Shown Above), a unique aircraft outfitted and configured for Presidential use. Its sophisticated onboard communications system allows the President and his staff access to all essential government agencies, and with a cruise speed of 115 knots (119 MPH) and range of 450  nautical miles, it is a versatile and reliable means of transportation for the Commander in Chief. It can carry 14 passengers but is limited to 10 for Presidential flights. The nature of the Squadron's  multifaceted mission requires that it  operate  several  types of helicopters in addition to the VH-3D.

                                             

UH -1 N" Huey

The VH-lN is the Executive version of the UH -1 N" Huey." Its comfortable interior and special communications package make it a viable helicopter for the President's use, and because it is easily transportable, it is an ideal aircraft for use overseas. To enable members of the press to accompany the President when he travels by helicopter, HMX-1 operates two types of transport aircraft.

The larger and more commonly used of the two is the CH-53D Sea Stallion. It is a fast, long-range helicopter capable of carrying 34 press, White House staff members, or other passengers.

                                                  

CH-53D Sea Stallion

The CH-46E Sea Knight is an extremely versatile aircraft also used to carry up to 20 press or White­ House staff. The rear ramps of the CH-53 and CH-46 allow for expeditious entry and exit of the press corps and their equipment.

A retired, de-militarized, and restored VH-3D Marine One was officially inducted into the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, College Station, Texas on 12 June 2024. Bureau number 159358 (BUNO 358) served United States presidents beginning with the Ford administration. The library and museum, located within the Texas A&M University campus unveiled the VH-3D inside the new pavilion that now houses the retired Marine One on what would have been President George H. W. Bush's 100th birthday.

Retired Marine One Finds Permanent Home at Presidential Library and Museum

Not every Marine Corps helicopter taking off from the South Lawn holds the president. On July 4, 1986, a CH-46 helicopter transported White House Executive Chef Henry Haller and food for a luncheon to New York City for President Ronald Reagan and French President François Mitterrand to enjoy on the occasion of the Fourth of July and the centennial of the Statue of Liberty. Combined, these aircraft enable the Marines of Marine Helicopter Squadron One to provide only the finest service for the President of the United States.

                                       

CH-46E Sea Knight

HMX-1, the unit that mans the president’s Marine One helicopter, will use the aircraft for so-called “greenside” missions. They will support White House travels by shuttling essential equipment, personnel and even VIPs, although the aircraft are unlikely to transport the president himself. He only rides on one of two custom-designed helicopter models — the older Sikorsky VH-3D and the newer VH-60N, a modified Black Hawk.

                                                      

Sikorsky VH-60N White Hawk

On August 11, 2013 two MV-22 Ospreys made their presidential debut ferrying Secret Service agents, White House staff, and members of the media from CGAS Cape Cod to Martha's Vineyard during the President's vacation. As of 2015, HMX-1 has 12 Sikorsky VH-3D of 1960s' vintage, 8 Sikorsky VH-60N from the 80s/90s era and 12 Bell-Boeing MV-22 Ospreys.

The new HMX-1 V-22 Osprey will replace the medium-lift capability provided by the CH-46 Sea Knight – better known as the PHROG – which has been in service since the early ’60s. In addition to the spit and polished green paint job, the VIP kits include black carpets, the HMX-1 logo emblazoned on the tail ramp, seat covers and walls and ceilings that hide the tangle of wires and hydraulic lines inside the cabin.

                                                   

HMX-1 V-22 Osprey

The President relies on a fleet of helicopters for transportation that has been in service for decades. The mission of the presidential helicopter fleet is to provide safe, reliable, and timely transportation in support of the President. The Navy plans to acquire 23 new VH-92A, to replace the current Marine Corps fleet of VH-3D and VH-60N aircraft.

                            

This photograph is from a 2018 test landing and takeoff on the South Lawn.

The New White House Helipad

Photos taken on July 1, 2026, show crews working around the clock on the circular landing area, replacing a section of lawn that recently served as the site of a temporary UFC arena. Once completed, the granite helipad will provide a permanent landing surface for Marine One while preserving the surrounding landscape from the intense heat generated by the new aircraft.

Construction of the new helipad on the south lawn of the White House

Construction is now completed on the permanent granite helipad on the South Lawn of the White House, marking one of the most significant changes to the presidential grounds in decades. President Donald Trump confirmed the project on Monday, saying the new landing pad is being built specifically to accommodate the Marine Corps’ new VH-92A Patriot presidential helicopters, whose powerful engines and downward-directed exhaust have repeatedly damaged the White House lawn.

Photos taken on July 1, 2026, show crews working around the clock on the circular landing area, replacing a section of lawn that recently served as the site of a temporary UFC arena. Once completed, the granite helipad will provide a permanent landing surface for Marine One while preserving the surrounding landscape from the intense heat generated by the new aircraft

Why a Helipad Is Needed

The Marine Corps completed delivery of 23 next-generation Sikorsky VH-92A Patriot helicopters in August 2024 to replace the aging presidential helicopter fleet. Although the aircraft offer significant improvements in performance, reliability, and maintenance costs, they introduced an unexpected problem at the White House.

Unlike the older VH-3D Sea King and VH-60N White Hawk helicopters, the VH-92A directs much of its engine exhaust downward near the rear of the aircraft. Each landing scorched and tore up portions of the South Lawn, making routine operations increasingly difficult.

“It isn’t that the grass gets discolored, it gets ripped out.

For several years, Marines attempted to minimize the damage by placing metal landing mats on the lawn. Even then, the aircraft’s exhaust often extended beyond the mat, leaving the surrounding grass badly damaged after each landing. As a result, the new helicopters saw only limited use at the White House while the older aircraft remained in regular service.

A Permanent Solution

Rather than continue repairing the lawn after every landing, the administration approved construction of a permanent granite helipad.

“It’s got the seal of the White House on it in carved granite,” Trump said. “It’s really a beautiful thing.”

According to the President, Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, agreed to pay the entire cost of the project because the company recognized the operational challenges created by the new helicopters.

“Sikorsky is paying for it,” Trump told reporters. “They didn’t tell us how powerful these helicopters were, and they felt a little bit guilty.”

Trump estimated the project would cost between $5 million and $6 million. However, construction documents reviewed by The Washington Post indicate the total cost, including related improvements to the South Portico and surrounding driveway, could approach $13 million, with an additional $875,000 approved to accelerate construction.

Clark Construction, the same firm building the new White House ballroom, is overseeing the project. Work began on June 29 and continues 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with completion scheduled for September 17, ahead of the planned September 24 state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Lockheed Martin stated that its contribution was made in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations through the appropriate federal channels.

Why Granite?

Granite is one of the strongest and most durable natural building materials available, making it an ideal surface for helicopter operations.

Unlike grass or gravel, a granite landing pad provides a perfectly level, stable, dust-free surface capable of supporting heavy aircraft without erosion or debris being blown into the rotor system. The smooth surface also distributes landing loads evenly through the helicopter’s landing gear, improving safety during touchdown.

A former Marine One pilot noted that a level landing surface allows equal compression of the landing struts, reducing stress on the aircraft and providing a safer landing environment.

The completed helipad will also feature the official White House seal carved directly into the granite and may occasionally serve as a platform for outdoor press conferences and ceremonial events.

  Completed the new granite White House Helipad

A Long-Needed Improvement

Many White House observers have long questioned why the Executive Mansion never had a permanent presidential helipad. For decades, Presidents and First Ladies have walked across the often wet South Lawn in dress shoes and heels before boarding Marine One.

The White House lawn itself also slopes gently away from the South Portico, making helicopter landings more challenging than on a purpose-built landing surface.

Interestingly, President Richard Nixon’s Florida compound at Key Biscayne featured a dedicated helicopter landing pad constructed adjacent to Biscayne Bay, providing a level and permanent landing area during his frequent visits.

The new White House helipad follows that same principle by creating a safer and more efficient operating environment for presidential helicopter operations.

 Today’s Marine One a Sikorsky VH-3D Sea King

 The End of an Era

The Marine One mission has relied primarily on Sikorsky VH-3D Sea King helicopters since 1978, with VH-60N White Hawks joining the fleet in the late 1980s. Multiple efforts to replace the aging helicopters began during the George W. Bush administration but were canceled because of rising costs. The modernization effort resumed under President Barack Obama, ultimately leading to the 2014 contract awarded to Sikorsky for development of the VH-92A Patriot.

Although the aircraft entered service in 2024, the South Lawn’s inability to accommodate their powerful exhaust prevented them from fully assuming the presidential mission at the White House.

The new granite helipad finally removes that obstacle, allowing the Marine Corps to transition fully to the VH-92A fleet while retiring helicopters that, in some cases, have served Presidents for nearly half a century.

Beyond solving a long-standing operational challenge, the project represents a permanent modernization of White House infrastructure that future Presidents—regardless of political party—will benefit from for decades to come.

The Engineering Behind the VH-92A

The VH-92A Patriot represents the most technologically advanced presidential helicopter ever built. Developed by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, it is based on the proven civilian S-92 medium-lift helicopter but extensively modified for the unique demands of presidential transport.

In addition to a hardened communications suite, defensive countermeasures, electromagnetic shielding, executive interior, and enhanced navigation systems, the aircraft is designed to serve as an airborne command post capable of supporting the President during national emergencies. Powered by two General Electric CT7-8A6 turboshaft engines, the VH-92A has a maximum gross weight of approximately 27,700 pounds and can carry a crew of four along with up to 14 passengers.

Although the aircraft is based on the commercial S-92, presidential requirements added considerable weight in the form of secure communications, self-protection equipment, specialized wiring, and redundant mission systems. Every added pound increases the power required during hover and landing, which in turn increases rotor thrust and the volume of air accelerated downward through the rotor disc.

Understanding Rotor Downwash

Every helicopter remains airborne by forcing a large column of air downward. This moving column of air, known as rotor downwash, creates the lift needed to support the aircraft’s weight.

 Sikorsky VH-92A Patriot         

The heavier the helicopter and the more power applied by its engines, the greater the volume and velocity of this downwash. During landing, especially in confined areas such as the White House South Lawn, the rotor system creates a concentrated stream of high-energy air that strikes the ground before spreading rapidly in all directions.

This airflow is strong enough to lift loose debris, move gravel, scatter landscaping materials, and flatten vegetation. On grass surfaces, the combination of aerodynamic force and engine heat can remove moisture from the soil, damage root systems, and literally tear the turf from the ground. The effect is even more pronounced when a helicopter hovers for several seconds before touchdown or after liftoff.

Why the VH-92A Damages the White House Lawn

The principal issue is not simply rotor downwash, but the interaction between the rotor wash and the helicopter’s exhaust system.

The older VH-3D Sea King, which entered presidential service in the 1970s, routes much of its engine exhaust outward and away from the ground. While the aircraft still generates substantial downwash, relatively little extremely hot exhaust is driven directly into the landing surface.

The VH-92A, however, is derived from the commercial S-92, whose engine installation places the exhaust outlets farther aft and closer to the rotor system. During hover, the main rotor forces the hot exhaust plume downward where it mixes with the rotor downwash before striking the ground. The result is a concentrated blast of high-temperature air capable of scorching grass almost immediately under certain wind and atmospheric conditions. This issue became significant enough that landing-zone suitability for grass surfaces was identified as one of the program’s remaining technical challenges, prompting engineering modifications to the rotor system intended to reduce heat damage while the rotors are turning.

Landing Loads and Why a Level Surface Matters

Another advantage of a permanent helipad is structural rather than aerodynamic.

When a helicopter touches down, its landing gear and shock struts are designed to absorb the aircraft’s weight evenly. If the landing surface is uneven or sloped, one landing gear may compress before the others, increasing structural loads on the airframe and rotor mast.

The White House South Lawn has a noticeable slope away from the South Portico. While experienced Marine One pilots have operated safely there for decades, a perfectly level granite landing surface distributes landing loads more uniformly through all three landing gear, reduces side loading on the struts, and minimizes stress on the aircraft during repeated operations.

A former Marine One pilot has noted that equal compression of the landing gear improves stability during touchdown and provides the safest possible landing environment for both crew and passengers.

 Why Granite Makes Sense

Granite offers several operational advantages over grass. It provides a rigid, level surface that will not rut, settle, or erode under repeated helicopter operations. Unlike gravel or asphalt, properly finished granite produces virtually no loose debris that could become dangerous Foreign object damage (FOD) when caught in rotor wash. The stone also tolerates repeated exposure to hot exhaust without deterioration and requires far less maintenance than constantly repairing sections of damaged turf. Because the landing area remains dimensionally stable over time, pilots also benefit from a consistent visual reference during every approach.

For these reasons, permanent helicopter landing facilities at military installations, hospitals, offshore platforms, and executive transport facilities are almost always constructed from reinforced concrete or stone rather than maintained turf.    

            Marine One Landing on three steal discs prior to the new helipad

 In many respects, the White House granite helipad brings presidential helicopter operations in Washington into line with long-established aviation engineering practices. Rather than serving as a cosmetic improvement, it addresses aerodynamic, structural, and operational issues that have become increasingly apparent with the introduction of the more capable VH-92A Patriot. For these reasons, permanent helicopter landing facilities at military installations, hospitals, offshore platforms, and executive transport facilities are almost always constructed from reinforced concrete or stone rather than maintained turf.

   President Trump  boarding Marine One for the first time using the Sikorsky VH-92A  on the new helipad completed in Aug. of 2026.

The president was apparently displeased with the appearance of the massive granite helipad that would serve as a landing site for Marine One, sources told the Washington Post.

He reportedly raised concerns that the slant of the White House's South Lawn would prevent the helipad from being level with the horizon, prompting contractors to pull the project apart and consider whether they needed to alter the lawn itself.