The aging Marine One helicopter fleet is finally due to retire. Meet its successor
By Jonathon Keats
Posted 05.01.2006 at 2:00 am
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
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