New Marine One Helicopters Aren't Allowed to Carry the President Because They Could Scorch the Lawn
Business Insider | By Jake Epstein
Published April 27, 2024 at 4:25pm ET
Read the original article on Business Insider.
The new Marine One helicopters, part of a program that the United States spent $5 billion on, still can't carry President Joe Biden because there's still a risk they will scorch the White House lawn, according to a new report.
The rotors and engine exhaust from the Sikorsky-manufactured VH-92 Patriot will occasionally burn the grass when it lands, an issue that was initially identified in 2018, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.
Because of this unrelenting problem, the new VH-92 is only carrying White House officials or Secret Service personnel instead of the president himself and is restricted to landing on paved surfaces, the report said. Older VH-3D Sea King helicopters will continue to transport Biden from the iconic, traditional South Lawn takeoff spot.
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/04/27/new-marine-one-helicopters-arent-allowed-carry-president-because-they-could-scorch-lawn.html
