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==Aircraft== [[File:VH-60N Marine Helicopter flies over the Potomac.jpg|thumb|A VH-60N Whitehawk flies over the [[Potomac River]] in Washington, D.C. ]] The first official presidential helicopter was the [[Sikorsky H-34|VH-34 Choctaw]], beginning operations in September 1957, and replaced by the [[Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King|VH-3A Sea King]] beginning in 1962. In the late 1970s, the [[Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King|VH-3As]] were retired and replaced by the upgraded [[VH-3D]]. The current fleet is made up of the VH-3D, the [[Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk|VH-60N "Whitehawk"]], which entered service with the squadron in 1988, the [[Sikorsky VH-92 Patriot|VH-92]], and the [[Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey|MV-22]]. The V designates the aircraft as configured for use by VIPs. The Executive Flight Detachment is the only Marine Corps unit to operate these Sikorsky aircraft. The VH-3D is capable of transporting 14 passengers, as is the VH-92, while the VH-60N only seats 11. All 3 helicopters require a pilot, copilot, and crew chief, but only the VH-60N and VH-92 also require a communications systems operator. Because the VH-60N folds easily for loading into an [[United States Air Force|Air Force]] [[Lockheed C-5 Galaxy|C-5 Galaxy]] or a [[Boeing C-17 Globemaster III|C-17 Globemaster]] it is ideal for overseas assignments. The Marines can prepare a VH-60N for a C-5 load in less than two hours.<ref name="EFD"/> [[File:Sikorsky VH-92 lands in front of the White House during tests, 22 September 2018 (180922-M-ZY870-531).jpg|left|thumb|A [[Sikorsky VH-92 Patriot|VH-92A]] conducts landing tests, White House South Lawn in 2018]] Due to the uniqueness of the VIP transport platforms, denoted by the VH prefix, all pilots and maintenance personnel assigned to these aircraft are trained by Sikorsky factory-trained instructors. Depending on the [[List of United States Marine Corps MOS|Military Occupational Specialty]], these schools can range from 1 to 5 months and are taught at the squadron. Sikorsky technical representatives oversee the Marines' operation and maintenance of the aircraft.<ref name="EFD"/> HMX-1 was scheduled to receive 23 new [[Lockheed Martin VH-71 Kestrel]] helicopters to replace the current fleet. However, in April 2009, it was announced that the Kestrel program was cancelled over budget concerns.<ref name="VH71hold">{{cite news|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/02/24/gibbs-obama-puts-new-presidential-helicopters-on-hold/|title=Gibbs: Obama puts new presidential helicopters on hold|date=24 February 2009|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=2009-04-27|archive-date=24 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324175156/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/02/24/gibbs-obama-puts-new-presidential-helicopters-on-hold/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="VH71canc">{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna30071664|title=Gates outlines military spending overhaul|date=6 April 2009|agency=[[Associated Press]]|publisher=[[NBC News]]|access-date=2009-04-27}}</ref> The [[VXX]] program was restarted in 2010 and the [[Sikorsky VH-92 Patriot|Sikorsky VH-92]] won the competition in 2014. Final delivery of VH-92's to the unit was completed in 2024.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2024-08-19 |title=Final VH-92A presidential helicopter delivered |url=https://www.navair.navy.mil/news/Final-VH-92A-presidential-helicopter-delivered/Mon-08192024-1049 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250222235437/https://www.navair.navy.mil/news/Final-VH-92A-presidential-helicopter-delivered/Mon-08192024-1049 |archive-date=2025-02-22 |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=www.navair.navy.mil}}</ref> {{nowrap|HMX-1}} also formerly operated a small number of [[Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight|CH-46 Sea Knights]] for utility purposes and a fleet of [[Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion|CH-53E Super Stallions]]. These aircraft were replaced with [[Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey|MV-22B Ospreys]] by 2017.<ref name="2010 Air Plan">{{cite web| first = George J.| last = Trautman III| author-link = George J. Trautman III| title = 2010 Marine Aviation Plan| publisher = [[Headquarters Marine Corps]]| year = 2009| url = http://www.marines.mil/unit/aviation/Documents/FY2010%20AvPlan%20Final%20(17%20Nov%2009%20ver).pdf| access-date = 2010-01-05| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100331142750/http://www.marines.mil/unit/aviation/Documents/FY2010%20AvPlan%20Final%20%2817%20Nov%2009%20ver%29.pdf| archive-date=2010-03-31}}</ref> The MV-22's share the dark green [[aircraft livery|livery]] that is characteristic of HMX-1, but they lack the white painted top which gained the other aircraft the nickname "white tops".<ref name="osprey">{{cite news|url=http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/05/marine-hmx1-president-osprey-051111w/|title=New helos, Osprey heading for HMX-1|date=11 May 2011|first=James K.|last=Sanborn|newspaper=Marine Corps Times|access-date=13 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723091245/http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2011/05/marine-hmx1-president-osprey-051111w/|archive-date=23 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 11 August 2013 two MV-22 Ospreys made their presidential debut ferrying [[United States Secret Service|Secret Service agents]], White House staff, and members of the media from [[Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod|CGAS Cape Cod]] to [[Martha's Vineyard]] during the President's vacation.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/08/11/osprey-aircraft-deployed-for-first-time-in-support-of-marine-one/ |title= Osprey aircraft deployed for first time in support of Marine One |publisher= CNN.com |access-date= 12 August 2013 |archive-date= 14 August 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130814033714/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/08/11/osprey-aircraft-deployed-for-first-time-in-support-of-marine-one/ |url-status= dead }}</ref> {{asof|2024|August}}, HMX-1 operates a fleet of 10 [[Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King|Sikorsky VH-3D]]'s, 6 [[Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk|Sikorsky VH-60N]]'s, 9 [[Sikorsky VH-92 Patriot|Sikorsky VH-92]]'s<ref name=":0" /> and 12 Bell-Boeing [[Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey|MV-22]] Ospreys.<ref>{{cite web |last=Howarth |first=Nigel |date=2015-06-24 |title=Presidential MV-22 Osprey Photo {{!}} Ares |url=http://aviationweek.com/blog/presidential-mv-22-osprey-photo |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626105039/http://aviationweek.com/blog/presidential-mv-22-osprey-photo |archive-date=2015-06-26 |access-date=2025-03-05}}</ref>
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