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 ...
The Secret Service would not allow it, they are charged with keeping the POTUS alive.
No ... the 6.1B is for the life of the program. Design, manufacturing, flight test and evaluation, procurement, upgrades, and maintenance for the life of the aircraft.
And it doesnt just transport the President
The marines dont have to run the country from a helicopter
Who's Voltaire?
; )
And it ahs been in development or planning stages (at least at very early stages) since before he took office.
Very good ... now add that you need some in a few different locations throughout the country (it doesnt just transport the President) and you are about right ... 20-something.
Variants of the EH101 platform, totaling 101 aircraft, have logged more than 90,000 flying hours. By 2008, when the Marine Corps expects to take delivery of the first Marine One helicopters, the platform will have logged an estimated 150,000 flight hours.
During peacekeeping operations in Bosnia, fleet protection in Iraq, and search and rescue in the North Atlantic, the EH101 has shown itself to be an extremely safe aircraft. The aircraft is also fully certified for civil and military operations in the five countries in which it is currently operating.
Like the EH101, three engines will drive the US101 for maximum safety and payload lift. In the event of an engine failure, a third engine ensures greater safety of the aircraft, passengers and crew, allowing the aircraft to complete its mission on two engines. By contrast, a two-engine aircraft is forced to abort its mission in the event of an engine failure.
Triple redundancy is built into critical systems of the 101 platform for safety and continued performance in the event of an emergency. As prime contractor for the US101 team, Lockheed Martin brings extensive experience managing large and complex aerospace programs - such as the multi-national Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) - where components are sourced internationally.
Lockheed Martin's ability to work on highly classified programs in a heightened security environment is a core competency, the JSF, F/A-22 and F-117 aircraft being predominant program examples. Lockheed Martin will apply the full application of its experience to the US101 aircraft and the U.S. government programs we are competing for.
Aircraft security refers to the quality inspection of parts that make up the Marine One helicopter system, the proper clearance of those producing the components, and the final assembly of those components in a secure environment.
More than 65 percent of components that make up the US101 will be made in America by American workers, and assembled into the airframe by specially cleared employees at a secure Bell Helicopter Textron production facility in Texas.
Internationally-made components - primarily the rotors, drivetrain and gearboxes - will be made under strict quality control and security oversight in Italy and the United Kingdom - both strong U.S. allies.
Following final assembly and test, each US101 airframe will fly under its own power to a secure facility at Lockheed Martin Systems Integration in Owego, NY for integration of all critical mission systems.
http://www.teamus101.com/security.cfm
17th century mathematician
I know (how many Americans outside FR would know though?).
True
So, like most Gov't initiatives, you mean it's gonna cost double, say $12.2B?
In this case ... since its the Presidents helicopter ... I sure hope so.
I think Terri Schiavo would have wanted it that way.
:)
$6.1-billion makeover of Marine One
That's a helluvacopter
ROFL
Thanks to all of the sane FReepers for salvaging this thread.
We can supply the President with 27 helicopters, but we couldn't keep Elian from being sent back to Cuba.
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