The Sikorsky H-3 “Seaking” has been a staple helicopter in presidential flights. The year was 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower needed a quick alternative to using Air Force One, since the aircraft could not land in the area. A motorcade could not suffice the needs of the President in such a short notice. The call to local Marine Corps Squadron HMX-1 would seal the fate of Presidential transportation and the Marine Corps.
At the time Presidential transportation consisted of motorcade and long flights provided by Air Force One. A helicopter bridges the gap between quick and accessible transportation not needing any special accommodation. HMX-1 outfitted a Sikorsky H-3 to meet the needs of the President. The H-3 took a life of its own and became an iconic piece of history.
From the modification that the H-3 took, its model number upgraded to the VH-3. The interior of the VH-3 looks nothing like any other helicopter. Fully covered in material to disguise the rigid feel of a helicopter, and to muff the sounds of the rotor blades, the mechanical outfit also produces a smoother ride. There are a lot more upgrades to meet Presidential specifications from communication, speed, defense to exterior looks.
HMX-1 sole mission is to transport the President to any part of the world. In any media coverage the VH-3 can be seen as the President lands and speaks to news reporters. HMX-1 consist of Marines and has held the high standard for years. As the years pass, the fate of the VH-3 is up in the air due to decades of usage. We will see what the future holds for HMX-1.
This is one of my favorite photos taken due to the depth I got from it. The gritty look of the black and white adds to the NY element. Also capturing the VH-3 lift like that was amazing to capture. Select the links below to find out more information on HMX-1.
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Link: Chuck Lloyd and Rick Llinares. 1997 Jun. HMX-1 “The First and Finest”.
YouTube: Marines. 2015 Apr 7. HMX-1 Presidential Pilots.