Biden takes inaugural flight in long-delayed new ‘Marine One’ helicopter

CHICAGO (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday took his first flight aboard the trendy VH-92A helicopter that serves as Marine One after years of delays to this system to switch the growing old plane that carry the president and vp.

Biden boarded the Sikorsky-made helicopter after arriving on Air Drive One in Chicago the place he’s communicate Monday night on the Democratic Nationwide Conference. The maiden presidential voyage carried him from O’Hare Worldwide Airport to the parking zone of Chicago’s Soldier Discipline, usually used as a touchdown zone for presidential journey.

It marked a vital milestone in a two-decade-long course of to switch the Vietnam-era helicopters which have been in use carrying presidents, in some instances, because the Nineteen Seventies.

An preliminary effort to buy new helicopters was kicked off by the Bush administration in an effort to enhance communications and mission capabilities within the post-September 11, 2001 setting, however it was scrapped by President Barack Obama after rampant price overruns.

The brand new program was began by the Obama administration, and the helicopter, branded the “Patriot” by its producer, made its public debut throughout the Trump administration. However points with the safe communications system on board — required in order that the president can perform categorized conversations and make navy selections in an emergency — in addition to an inclination to scorch the White Home South Garden led to years of delays to this system.

The Marine Corps reported final yr that the communications points had been resolved, however it was not clear whether or not modifications to the exhaust system have eradicated the menace to the White Home grass.

Marine Helicopter Squadron One, which operates the plane, has been utilizing the VH-92 helicopters for a number of years in common service, together with check flights round Washington, D.C. and to hold White Home workers and safety personnel. The ultimate VH-92A helicopter was delivered earlier this month, giving the USMC 21 operational plane and two for testing. The entire program price for the 23 plane was about $5 billion.

The brand new helicopters are primarily based on the commercially-available Sikorsky S-92 and are bigger and have longer vary than the older VH-3D and VH-60N fashions.

___ Related Press writers Tara Copp and Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report.