Sea-Air-Space 2019: New US presidential helicopter nears production


The USMC’s VH-92A presidential helicopter replacement could soon receive the go-ahead to enter production, according to a key official.


Sea Air Space 2019 New US presidential helicopter nears production PIC2 A developmental VH-92A helicopter conducts landing and take-off testing at the White House South Lawn in September 2018 (Picture source:U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Hunter Helis)


Based on the feedback from test pilots, VH-92A production is expected to start soon after the milestone meeting, Marine Maj. Gen. Gregory L. Masiello, the program executive officer for Air anti-submarine warfare, assault and special mission programs (PEO (A)) said during a presentation at the Navy League’s 2019 Sea Air Space exposition.

“I believe that things went reasonably well,” Masiello said of the recent VH-92A testing. “The reason I say that is because I know where the aircraft took off from every day and I know where they landed every day, and it was where it was supposed to. The feedback was relatively positive.”

Sikorsky won the competition with its VH-92A design, a variant of the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter which is used by 11 other nations to transport their heads of state.


Sea Air Space 2019 New US presidential helicopter nears production President Donald Trump with Marine One on the White House South Lawn in 2018 (Picture source: Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)