Marine Helicopter Squadron One
Marine Helicopter Squadron One
HMX-1 was established in December 1947 as an experimental unit to test and evaluate helicopters and tactics.
HMX-1 provides all helicopter transportation for the President both overseas and within the continental United States.
In addition, HMX-1 provides helicopter transportation for the Vice President, members of the President's Cabinet, and foreign dignitaries as directed by the White House Military Office.
HMX-1 also provides helicopter emergency evacuation and other support as directed by the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
Marine One is the call sign used when the President is on board one of the HMX-1 Marine helicopters. The primary presidential helicopter is the Sikorsky VH-3D (Sea King).
HMX-1 is tasked with the Operational Test and Evaluation of US Marine Corps assault helicopters and related equipment.
Marine One is the call sign of any United States Marine Corps aircraft carrying the President of the United States. It usually denotes a helicopter operated by the HMX-1 "Nighthawks" squadron, either the large VH-3D or the newer, smaller VH-60N Whitehawk. Both are due to be replaced by the VH-71 Kestrel, a derivative of the AgustaWestland EH101. A Marine Corps aircraft carrying the Vice President is designated Marine Two.
The current helicopters have aging airframes, having entered service with HMX-1 in 1962. VH-3D replaced some VH-3A in 1978, and the remainder of VH-3A were replaced by VH-60N beginning in 1989. Due to the age of the VH-3D, a replacement type is in development, with initial operational capability due by 2008 and full operational capability by no later than 2014.
The selected replacement is Italy's AgustaWestland EH101, which will be produced by Lockheed Martin under license as the US101, with the military designation VH-71 Kestrel.
The replacement cost of the fleet was estimated at $6.1 billion when contracts were signed in 2005. However, as of March 2008 the cost of the new 28 helicopter fleet is projected to be $11.2 billion, or roughly $400 million per helicopter. That is greater than the inflation adjusted amount paid for the Boeing 747s that serve as Air Force One. [3].
The first use of helicopters for presidential transport was in 1957, when Dwight D. Eisenhower traveled on an H-13 Sioux. This early aircraft lacked the "creature comforts" found on its modern successors, such as air conditioning and toilets.
In 1958, the H-13 was replaced by the H-34, and in 1961 by the Sea King VH-3A.
Until 1976 the Marine Corps shared the responsibility of helicopter transportation for the president with the US Army. Army helicopters used the call sign Army One while the president was on board.
Recently, the VH-53Ds were replaced by VH-60Ns. [1]
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