The new Presidential helicopter took flight yesterday in the UK. The VH-71 helicopter is built by AgustaWestland and Lockheed Martin. The lime green-ish aircraft will soon have its Prez livery with the dark green and white. She, along with 27 other VH-71s will eventually make it stateside aboard a C-17 to be delivered to Maryland for programming and aircraft system installation by Lockheed Martin. Who knew the President had such a fleet of helicopters?
According to the press release, the current Marine One helicopter is to be phased out starting in 2017 on a three-per-year basis.
As a side note, and do not get me wrong because I'm no Airbus lover, it is worth pointing out the Pres can fly in a UK designed helicopter, but everyone raised hell when the US was going to a Euro-designed tanker. I think the VH-71 is a beauty though, don't you?
