An artist rendering of the VH-92A helicopter.
Posted on 08/07/2017 2:17:56 PM PDT by KeyLargo
VH-92A Presidential Helicopter Achieves First Flight
Aug 3, 2017
On July 28, the VH-92A configured test aircraft completed its first flight in support of the U.S. Marine Corps’ VH-92A Presidential Helicopter Replacement Program.
STRATFORD, Conn., Aug. 3, 2017 – Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) today announced the first flight of a VH-92A configured test aircraft in support of the U.S. Marine Corps’ VH-92A Presidential Helicopter Replacement Program. The July 28 flight signals the start of the 250 hour flight test program, which will take place at Lockheed Martin facilities in Owego, New York.
The aircraft achieved its first flight, and later that same day completed a second flight at Sikorsky Aircraft in Stratford, Connecticut. Total flight time for the two sorties was one hour and included hover control checks, low speed flight, and a pass of the airfield.
“This first flight of the VH-92A configured test aircraft is an important milestone for the program,” said Spencer Elani, director VH-92A program at Sikorsky. “Having independently tested the aircraft’s components and subsystems, we are now moving forward to begin full aircraft system qualification via the flight test program.”
As the flight test program proceeds, this test aircraft (Engineering Development Model 1, or EDM-1) will be joined by an additional test aircraft (EDM-2) over the course of the 12-month flight test program. EDM-2 is on track for its first flight later this year.
The VH-92A aircraft is based on Sikorsky’s successful and FAA-certified S-92A commercial aircraft, which recently surpassed one million flight hours. The S-92A aircraft, assembled in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, is being modified to include integration of government-defined missions systems and an executive interior.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.lockheedmartin.com ...
An artist rendering of the VH-92A helicopter.
Looks like a flying Winnebago.....................
Only Lone Starr pilots a flying Winnebago.
That would be a CH-54 Sky Crane with the troop carrier...
May the Farce be with you!..................
Does the President really need 23 helicopters, at an average cost of $205 million each? I mean I could see 6 or 8 but two dozen, no. Let everyone other than the President ride Blackhawks.
“”The VH-92A will enter into service in 2020. The VH-92A will transport the president and vice president of the United States and other officials.””
I guess we’ll never know or see what “other officials” have the use of these helicopters...Interesting...
Can’t help but wonder if they will all be based at Andrews and just who gets to be transported in them.
some on the east cost, some on the west coast, some are decoys used in certain situations so so a terrorist isn't exactly sure which one the president is in, some are spares in case one is down, etc
I do not know. But my guess is that the huge fleet was a result of Obama providing free transport for his cronies.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.