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The President's New Helicopter
LiveScience.com ^ | 5/8/06 | Jonathan Keats

Posted on 05/08/2006 10:28:35 AM PDT by NormsRevenge

After decades of upgrades to a fleet of notoriously cramped Sikorsky VH-3 Sea Kings, the White House has tasked Lockheed Martin with a dramatic, $6.1-billion makeover of Marine One, the presidential helicopter, starting this summer. The goal: to fit a mobile Oval Office into the tight quarters of a chopper. The new fleet will consist of 23 VH-71 aircraft, each of which will have 200 square feet of cabin space, nearly double the Sea King’s 116.

Aside from the legroom, the copter will incorporate major upgrades to the old defense and communications systems. Equally important is that the aircraft is flight-proven—the $110-million bird is derived from a European-built AgustaWestland EH101, currently doing military service for Canada and the U.K. Here, an inside look at the revamped Marine One, set to gradually go into service between 2009 and 2014.

(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government
KEYWORDS: bush; helicopter; lockheedmartin; marineone; president; sikorsky
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To: keat
(a) Do we need 27?

Yes. It’s not like you can just pick a helicopter up and drop it somewhere else.

21 posted on 05/08/2006 10:38:39 AM PDT by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
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To: martin_fierro

Blade # 5 of the Rotor.

Artist rendition thing going on I suppose.


22 posted on 05/08/2006 10:39:09 AM PDT by roaddog727 (eludium PU36 explosive space modulator)
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To: keat

How long will they use this fleet for?

You'd have to see how much a current new fleet of marine one helicopters now that they are using would cost.

I don't even know who made this decision. Probably the secret service.

Good to know Hillary and Bubba will get the reward.


23 posted on 05/08/2006 10:39:23 AM PDT by santorumlite
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To: theDentist

In the article it says the 6.1 billion is for a fleet of 23 choppers.


24 posted on 05/08/2006 10:39:25 AM PDT by YummiBox
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To: NormsRevenge

This seems a tad wasteful. But then again, our pal the government has never really been a penny pincher. Still, $250 mil a piece? Please.


25 posted on 05/08/2006 10:40:47 AM PDT by mysterio
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To: theDentist

The new helicopter is not 6 billion that is for the whole fleet.

This decision was probably made by the secret service to have new technology to protect against missles. Who really knows.

But I can guarantee you even the current fleet of marine one helicopters they are using now aren't cheap.


26 posted on 05/08/2006 10:41:09 AM PDT by santorumlite
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To: santorumlite

OK.





SO just how was I "Bush bashing"?


27 posted on 05/08/2006 10:43:30 AM PDT by theDentist (Qwerty ergo typo : I type, therefore I misspelll.)
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To: martin_fierro

That's the double top secret antenna for contacting the Space Aliens.......


28 posted on 05/08/2006 10:43:45 AM PDT by Red Badger (In warfare there are no constant conditions. --- The Art of War by SunTzu)
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To: NormsRevenge

Why not have the President fly in whatever our Marines are actually being required to use?


29 posted on 05/08/2006 10:44:27 AM PDT by ikka
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To: Glenn

Read the FINE print. That's total program cost. $110 million per bird. Base helicopter is likely in the 40-60 million per unit range: add the electronics and defensive suites, and 110 mil per is a reasonable conclusion.

Remember, brand-new LIGHT helicopters range from 1-8 million each for civilian-spec birds. . .


30 posted on 05/08/2006 10:44:31 AM PDT by Salgak (Acme Lasers presents: The Energizer Border: I dare you to try and cross it. . .)
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To: Glenn; theDentist

I don't have a problem with this purchase - it was awarded last year you know.


31 posted on 05/08/2006 10:44:42 AM PDT by clawrence3
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To: Gefreiter
Here is what should be used:
32 posted on 05/08/2006 10:44:49 AM PDT by sticker
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To: NormsRevenge

Why doesn't this thing have NOTAR?.........


33 posted on 05/08/2006 10:46:09 AM PDT by Red Badger (In warfare there are no constant conditions. --- The Art of War by SunTzu)
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To: NormsRevenge

Sikorsky gtot the shaft.

Something about how this deal helps the brits if I recall.


34 posted on 05/08/2006 10:46:58 AM PDT by Blackirish (BORDERS!!! BORDERS!!!!! YIIEEEEE!!!! Now can we get back on topic?)
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To: ikka
I don't know, but is it possible that those might actually cost more—especially once they are armed with firepower and personnel?

While this sounds like a great deal to armchair critics, my suspicion is that it is well in line with other military equipment.
35 posted on 05/08/2006 10:47:17 AM PDT by pollyannaish
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To: Glenn

I had to read it twice. Sure enough, it's billion with a "b". At triple the cost of a B-2, that damn thing had better be stealth, ride so smooth that Mr. Prez can drink an open cup of coffee without spilling any on his tie, and be able to reconfigure itself into a James Bond mini-submarine.


36 posted on 05/08/2006 10:48:11 AM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity ("Sharpei diem - Seize the wrinkled dog.")
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To: NormsRevenge

I bet a nice border fence could be built for less than the cost of the President's helicopter fleet. A fence sounds really cheap by that comparison.


37 posted on 05/08/2006 10:48:35 AM PDT by faq
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To: Salgak

Good post with actual, useful info.

Each of them are undoubtedly outfitted with the latest IRCM lasers. The ones I build are $330,000.00 each and these birds will likely have 2 or 3 on board. The price should come down a little by 2009 though.


38 posted on 05/08/2006 10:49:51 AM PDT by subterfuge (Call me a Jingoist, I don't care...)
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To: NormsRevenge
Just how long does this thing spend in the air at any given moment? I thought Marine 1 took the President and family from the WH to Camp David, or Andrews Air Force Base. Are either of these trips that extensive to require meals in-flight or a bathroom?

Hey, the president can do like my grandfather used to insist before trips..."Go now before we leave, cause I'm not stopping til we get there!"

39 posted on 05/08/2006 10:49:59 AM PDT by Military family member (GO Colts!!)
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To: Gefreiter
[ Why not make an Osprey the new Marine 1? ]

You would think?... LoL... Wonder why?.. LoL...

40 posted on 05/08/2006 10:50:11 AM PDT by hosepipe (This Propaganda has been edited to include not a small amount of Hyperbole..)
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