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Sikorsky VH-92 Patriot

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The Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin VH-92 Patriot[4] is an American helicopter now operational as the United States Marine Corps' Marine One U.S. presidential transport fleet. It is a militarized variant of the Sikorsky S-92 and is larger than the former Marine One helicopters.[5]

VH-92 Patriot
U.S. Marine Corps VH-92A flying during HMX-1's 75th Anniversary Reunion at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia in June 2022.
Role Medium-lift transport/utility helicopter
National origin United States
Manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft / Lockheed Martin
First flight 28 July 2017[1][2]
Status Operational
Primary user United States Marine Corps
Number built 23[3]
Developed from Sikorsky S-92

Design and development

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See also: VXX

Sikorsky entered the VH-92 variant of the S-92 into the VXX competition for U.S. presidential helicopter Marine One (replacing the Sikorsky VH-3D Sea King and VH-60N White Hawk), but lost to the Lockheed Martin VH-71 Kestrel.[6][7] However, the competition was restarted in 2010 due to ballooning VH-71 development costs, allowing Sikorsky to resubmit the VH-92 in April 2010.[8] By mid-2013, all other aircraft manufacturers had dropped out of the contest, leaving only Sikorsky.[9]

On 7 May 2014, it was announced that the VH-92 had won the restarted VXX competition.[10] In May 2014, Sikorsky was awarded a US$1.24 billion contract to produce the VH-92, which is outfitted with an executive interior and military mission support systems, including triple electrical power and redundant flight controls. Six of the variant, designated VH-92A,[11] were ordered by the U.S. Navy for delivery in 2017.[12] Production of a further 17 aircraft was planned[needs update] to begin in 2020.[11][13] The total FY2015 program cost is $4.718 billion for 23 helicopters, at an average cost of $205M per aircraft.[14] In July 2016, the design passed its Critical Design Review, clearing it for production.[15]

Operational history

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A developmental VH-92A helicopter conducts landing and take-off testing at the White House South Lawn in front of the Washington Monument in September 2018

On 28 July 2017, the first VH-92A performed its maiden flight at Sikorsky's Stratford, Connecticut facility.[1][2] On 22 September 2018, a VH-92 was flown to the White House for take-off and landing tests at spots used for Marine One.[16]

In late November 2021, Pentagon officials noted the aircraft was "failing to meet the reliability, availability or maintainability threshold requirements" and that it had damaged landing zones with its exhaust and fuel leaks during test flights. The VH-92 had not yet entered service carrying VIPs.[17]

On 28 December 2021, the VH-92 achieved its Initial Operational Capability (IOC) milestone.[18] However, the aircraft, named "Patriot" in 2022, was still unable to transport the president or vice president due to issues with its encrypted communications systems and its tendency to scorch the South Lawn of the White House.[4]

A VH-92 made its inaugural flight as Marine One on the afternoon of 19 August 2024, when President Joe Biden rode from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport to Soldier Field en route to the 2024 Democratic National Convention.[19]

Variants

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  • VH-92A Patriot: 23 (21 operational, 2 test/training[20])

Operators

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  United States

Specifications (S-92)

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Data from Sikorsky S-92 specifications,[21] International Directory of Civil Aircraft[22] and the U.S. Navy.[23]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 4 (pilot, co-pilot, communication systems operator, crew chief)
  • Capacity: 14 passengers
  • Length: 56 ft 2 in (17.12 m)
  • Width: 17 ft 2 in (5.23 m)
  • Height: 15 ft 5 in (4.70 m)
  • Cabin dimensions: 20 ft (6 m) long by 6 ft 8 in (2 m) tall[24]
  • Empty weight: 15,500 lb (7,031 kg)
  • Gross weight: 26,500 lb (12,020 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 27,700 lb (12,565 kg)
  • Powerplant: 2 × General Electric CT7-8A turboshaft engine, 2,520 shp (1,880 kW) each equivalent
  • Main rotor diameter: 56 ft 4 in (17.17 m)
  • Main rotor area: 2,492.3 sq ft (231.54 m2)
  • Blade section: - root: Sikorsky SC2110; tip: Sikorsky SSC-A09[25]

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 165 kn (190 mph, 306 km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 151 kn (174 mph, 280 km/h)
  • Range: 539 nmi (620 mi, 998 km)
  • Service ceiling: 14,000 ft (4,300 m)
  • Disk loading: 9.8 lb/sq ft (48 kg/m2)
  • Power/mass: 0.23 shp/lb (0.38 kW/kg)

See also

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Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b "VH-92A Presidential Helicopter Achieves First Flight". Lockheed Martin. 3 August 2017. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  2. ^ a b Werner, Ben (7 August 2017). "VH-92A Presidential Helo Flies For the First Time". U.S. Naval Institute. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  3. ^ "Final VH-92A Patriot accepted". 19 August 2024.
  4. ^ a b Tegler, Eric (30 December 2022). "Practice Hasn't Yet Made Perfect for the Next Presidential Helicopter". Forbes. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  5. ^ Soule, Alexander (12 July 2023). "Sikorsky remains White House helicopter of choice". CT Insider. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  6. ^ "DoD Special Briefing on Award of Presidential Helicopter Contract". Defense Link. 28 January 2005. Archived from the original on 1 December 2009.
  7. ^ Trimble, Stephen (1 February 2005). "US101 snatches presidential prize". FlightGlobal. Archived from the original on 12 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin Announce Teaming Agreement to Compete for the VXX Presidential Helicopter Program". Lockheed Martin. 19 April 2010. Archived from the original on 1 May 2010.
  9. ^ Drew, Christopher (28 July 2013). "Few Suitors to Build a New Marine One". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023.
  10. ^ Majumdar, Dave (7 May 2014). "Sikorsky Wins $1.24 Billion Contract for Presidential Helo". U.S. Naval Institute. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  11. ^ a b "Contract Awarded Presidential Helicopter". U.S. Naval Air Systems Command. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  12. ^ Hemmerdinger, Jon (8 May 2014). "Sikorsky wins US presidential helicopter contract". FlightGlobal. Archived from the original on 22 May 2022.
  13. ^ Pierce, David (7 May 2014). "This is the President's new $1.2 billion helicopter". The Verge. Archived from the original on 3 January 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  14. ^ "GAO-15-342SP Defense Acquisitions Assessments of Selected Weapon Programs" (PDF). U.S. Government Accountability Office. March 2015. p. 129. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 August 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  15. ^ Cavas, Christopher P. (25 July 2016). "US Presidential Helo Moves to Production Phase". Defense News. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024.
  16. ^ Parsons, Dan (20 November 2018). "Check Out The New Presidential Helicopter Landing on the White House Lawn". Rotor & Wing International. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  17. ^ Capaccio, Tony; Jacobs, Jennifer (23 November 2021). "President's new helicopter hits setback: It's unreliable in a crisis, says Pentagon report". Stars and Stripes. Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  18. ^ Burgess, Richard R. (26 April 2022). "Marine Corps' New VH-92 Presidential Helicopter Achieves Initial Operational Capability". Seapower Magazine. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  19. ^ Madhani, Aamer (19 August 2024). "Biden takes inaugural flight in long-delayed new 'Marine One' helicopter". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 19 August 2024. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  20. ^ a b "Biden takes first ride in new Marine One as Sikorsky wraps delivery". 19 August 2024.
  21. ^ "S-92". Sikorsky. Archived from the original on 15 April 2009.
  22. ^ Gerard, Frawley (2003). The International Directory of Civil Aircraft 2003/2004. Airlife Publishing. ISBN 9781875671588.
  23. ^ "VH-92A". U.S. Navy. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023.
  24. ^ "Sikorsky S-92® Multi-Mission Helicopter" (PDF). Sikorsky. p. 20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 January 2011.
  25. ^ Lednicer, David (28 September 2023). "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". UIUC Applied Aerodynamics Group. Archived from the original on 25 December 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2019.

Bibliography

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  • Leoni, Ray D. (2007). Black Hawk: The Story of a World Class Helicopter. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. ISBN 978-1-56347-918-2.
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