These Elite Military Helicopter Units Fly Washington's Power Players

Washington D.C. is a fast moving place, and for those in the very top echelons of power, both time and security trump cost efficiency when it comes to transportation. The Department Of Defense has trio of helicopter squadrons ready to fly these VIPs around the region, and to safety should something catastrophic ever occur.

The three squadrons covered are the US Army 12th Aviation Battalion, the US Air Force 1st Helicopter Squadron, and the US Marine Corps HMX-1 VIP Transport Squadron.

Excellent article written by Tyler Rogoway at http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/these-elite-military-helicopter-units-fly-washingtons-p-1704260996

USMC Presidential Chopper Squadron to Get MV-22s

According to an article on the Defense Tech website, HMX-1, the Marine Corps chopper squadron that operates the fleet of Marine One presidential transport helos is set to receive the first of what will be a fleet of 14 MV-22s, starting in 2013.

The Ospreys will likely be replacing the unit’s VH-43D Sea Stallions which are sometimes used to transport the president’s gear and perform other utility duties for the squadron. The aging VH-53Ds are being pulled out of presidential support duty to return to normal cargo hauling missions until the Corps’ thinning fleet of Sea Stallions is retired in the coming years, said Col. Roger Pridgen, NAVAIR’s H-53 program manager earlier this week.

You can read more about the proposals for replacement of the HMX-1 aircraft assets at this link.