The Sikorsky VH-92A helicopter released to replace the 20+ year old ‘Sea King”s and Black Hawks’….
Problems with communications and rotor wash on the White House lawns had held things up for years….
But President Biden took his first ride in the aircraft that had the call sign Marine One with Biden aboard in Chicago….
The prcess to make the upgrade has been going on for over a two decade’s and has cost the American ttaxpayers billions…
Biden will get 5 months of rides….
Why it matters: President Biden took his first flight in the new model on Monday while in Chicago, a crucial milestone in a long process to replace the Vietnam-era helicopters that have carried presidents, in some cases, since the 1970s.
- Issues with the secure communications system on board the new VH-92A helicopters and a tendency to scorch the White House South Lawn led to years of delays.
Fun fact: Marine One isn’t a specific kind of helicopter; it’s the call sign for whichever U.S. Marine Corps aircraft the president is in….
image…President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden step off the new helicopter model that will serve as Marine One in Chicago Monday. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty