Notifications
Clear all
By Roxana Tiron
Posted: 01/28/09 06:09 PM [ET]
The Navy formally informed Congress on Wednesday that the new presidential helicopter now in development is significantly over budget.
The estimated price of the chopper program, built by Lockheed Martin and its European partner, AgustaWestland, has almost doubled over the last three years, from $6.1 billion to $11.2 billion.
The Pentagon is required by law to inform lawmakers when a program surpasses the cost thresholds set by Congress. The so-called Nunn-McCurdy law requires the military services or the Pentagon leadership to tell Congress when the price tag of a program increases by 50 percent.
The announcement comes at a crucial time as President Obama’s administration is working on the 2010 Pentagon budget that could determine the fate of the new chopper. Obama, who will be flying in the chopper, already pledged during the campaign to take a closer look at the program.
The Pentagon’s acquisitions chief, John Young, signaled last spring that the program would breach the cost thresholds and would likely have to be restructured.
But the Navy, the contractors and the White House have tried to lower the costs over the last year. The Navy blamed the price increase on complex requirements and an initial schedule that was determined to be too aggressive.
The new presidential helicopter is designed to ferry the president on shorter trips — oftentimes from the White House to Andrews Air Force Base, Md. It would be equipped with a protected communications suite, advanced navigation systems, as well as a kitchen and a bathroom.
The amenities on the new choppers would be closer to Air Force One than the 30-year-old Marine One helicopters they would replace. The Navy runs the Marine One program.
The VH-71 is supposed to be developed in two phases. Five helicopters in the first phase will be delivered by September 2010, according to Navy officials.
The second phase of the program would deliver 23, more technologically advanced helicopters. But that part is likely to be overhauled due to the cost increase.
Posted : 2009-01-28 19:21
Pardon my ignorance,but why do the Marines fly the Presidential Helicopter and not, say, the Air Force?
Regards, Flag Track
Posted : 2009-02-19 06:15
Marines fly the President?
I'm sure there is a more substansive answer, and I'll bet Walt Jones or K.D. Logue can provide it. However, I had always assumed that he just wanted the very best!
Posted : 2009-02-19 19:57
While Joe's answer would fit the bill, WIKIPEDIA says:
On September 7, 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower was vacationing at his summer home in Newport, Rhode Island, when his immediate presence was needed at the White House. Typically, the return trip to Washington, D.C. required an hour-long ferry ride across Narragansett Bay to Air Force One, followed by a 45-minute flight to Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, and a 20-minute motorcade ride to the White House.
Realizing the urgent need for his presence in Washington, President Eisenhower directed his staff to find a faster way to Air Force One. An HMX-1, UH-34 helicopter was on Aquidneck Island in case of an emergency and could be used to fly the President to his awaiting aircraft. President Eisenhower approved the idea, and after the 7-minute flight a precedent was set.
Shortly thereafter, a naval aide to the President asked HMX-1 to evaluate landing helicopters on the south lawn of the White House. Preliminary assessment and trial flights concluded that ample room was present for a safe landing and departure. Formal procedures were finalized and HMX-1 began a long career of flying the President of the United States to and from the South Lawn and Andrews AFB, the home of Air Force One.
Initially this function was shared with the Army. In 1976, the Marine Corps was assigned the sole responsibility and mission of providing helicopter support to the President, worldwide. Today HMX-1 also supports the Vice President, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Navy, Commandant of the Marine Corps, and all visiting Heads of States in the Washington, D.C. area
Posted : 2009-02-19 20:35
Eisenhower's Marine One
Here's a photo I have in my files. Don't know when, where, or by whom it was taken.
Posted : 2009-02-20 02:26
Presidential request
Thanks Slick, for the complete answer!
Norm,
Nice photo!
Posted : 2009-02-20 14:50
Army Wh. House HELICOPTERS
Slick;22921 wrote: While Joe's answer would fit the bill, WIKIPEDIA says:
A little off, was there when we picked up the Army Wh. House VH3 in
Ft. Belvoir and the year was 1965 ?
Posted : 2009-04-19 17:13
Negative! It was the Army who picked up Nixon at the white house upon his resignation. Two years the complete Mission was turned over to the Marines.
K.D.
Posted : 2009-04-20 06:41
K.D. Knew!
It was the Army who picked up Nixon at the white house upon his resignation.
I knew K.D. would know...This is interesting information, though.....:rolleyes:
Posted : 2009-04-20 18:36
