Helicopter Began Flying Presidents in Ford Administration

A de-militarized, restored, and retired Sikorsky VH-3D Marine One helicopter was inducted into the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, in June 2024. The library and museum held a grand opening for the new pavilion that houses the helicopter. Bush family members, donors, supporters, and members of the Presidential Helicopters Program Office attended the event.

Helicopters began flying U.S. presidents in 1957 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower needed to quickly reach his summer home just outside of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. After all, Air Force One was unable to land at the White House or the summer home. Initially, a Bell UH-13J Sioux was commissioned for the job but it was lacking in creature comforts such as air conditioning and a rest room.

A Sikorsky UH-34 Seahorse took over in 1958 and in 1961 the VH-3A was transporting presidents to and from the White House South Lawn landing zone, which was established by the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps and the Army shared the duty of helicopter transport of the president, with the Army helo using the call sign Army One when the president was aboard.

The VH-3D entered presidential transport service in 1978 and by 2009 there were 11 of them in service. Other helicopters were used in this capacity as well, and an interesting history can be found by following the link below.

FMI:  www.nhahistoricalsociety.org/ , www.navair.navy.mil/news/