Helicopters that transport the US President and are operated by USMC Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) "Nighthawks". This VH-3A was retired in 2002 and has been on loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum (Pensacola) to the Library since 2004 and on display since 2005 . It sits below the much larger VC-137C 72-7000 in the museum's Air Force One Pavilion.

This once fleet Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) Stallion was assigned to Marine Helicopter Squadron (HMX) One from the early ninetees. Although some report this is a VH-53D, that's incorrect as it is a CH-53D in a VIP livery. On its tail, above the BuNo the CH-53D designation is visible. The 53 arrived at AMARC on 29 Nov'95 and received inventory code AN2J0086, it was reactivated with HMX-1 in Oct'02, and returned to AMARG as AN2J119 in Sep'04. The Stallion is seen here leading a row of 26 kindred and was moved to HVF West at Tucson by Mar'21 for scrap.

Quite a unique moment, unexpectedly this formation appeared, old and new in formation near the Thomas-Jefferson memorial. Strikingly, the green colour of the Sea King is slight different compared of the colour of its successor, the Patriot. The VH-3D Sea King (BuNo 159359) is together with 159357 (which was seen earlier this day) is one of the last operational Sea Kings of HMX-1.

168280 from FY2011 is the first presidential Osprey (LRIP Lot 15). It flew first on 23 Jan'13 and was delivered to Marine Helicopter Squadron (HMX) ONE 'the Nighthawks' on 3 May'13. The Marine One Osprey's replaced a small number of CH-46 and CH-53s within HMX-1 and are used as support aircraft. They lack the white paint at the top of the fuselage (thus the nickname "white tops") that the VIP transport helicopters have. On 11 Aug'13 two MV-22Bs made their presidential debut ferrying Secret Service agents, White House staff, and members of the media from CGAS Cape Cod to Martha's Vineyard (MA).

The construction number of this Osprey is unconfirmed. The tilt-rotor is coming from the Lor Rate Initial Production Lot 115 series and was part of the US Navy FY2011 budget. As they are support aircraft, the are named "Green Tops", the other assetts of HMX-1 are named "White Tops" and these transport the VIPs. HMX-1 operates a dozen MV-22Bs.

The construction number of this Osprey is not known. The Marine Helicopter Squadron (HMX) ONE MV-22Bs are identical to those used by the USMC in the fleet, they only differ from their paint job.

This is VH-92A System Demonstration Test Article 2, the fourth Patriot built. It is former Sikorsky test registration N313SX and was first noted in mid-2019. 169180 is one of 23 VH-92As that the US Navy budget procured, of which 21 will be operational aircraft and two will remain test aircraft. The 21 aircraft are operated by Marine Helicopter Squadron (HMX) OBNE, based at Quantico (VA). The squadron runs a detachment at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (MD). The VH-92As replace the venerable VH-3D Sea King and VH-60N of HMX-1.

This FY2019 Patriot carries a plate with a six on the "clip", I don't know what that means. Normally such clips are used for plates with two, three or four star marks. This 169187 is former Sikorsky test registration N335SX.

Possibly one of the last operational Sea Kings of Marine Helicopter Squadron (HMX) ONE. The type will see its sundown in 2025.

The red plate on the nose section reveals that this Patriot is carrying a four star general. The helicopter took-off from Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (DC), just on the other side of Ronald Reagan International Airport, both adjacent to the Potomac river, just south of the capital. This fiscal year 2021 VH-92A is former Sikorsky N344MW.

Sea trials for Flying Bananas. Data for the first one. XM-8 is 111832, whereas XM-9 and XM-6 are HRP-1s - note the different nose shapes. Photo dated May 1951 by Life but we gather that this took place off Key West in 1952. Photo by: Hank Walker / Life

Resting at Ottawa, one of three green CH-46F "Frogs" of the presidential armada that visited Canada's capital for the North American Summit in 2007.

Resting at Ottawa, one of two green VH-3Ds of the presidential armada that visited Canada's capital for the North American Summit in 2007.

Resting at Ottawa, one of three green CH-46F "Frogs" of the presidential armada that visited Canada's capital for the North American Summit in 2007.

Resting at Ottawa, one of three green CH-46F "Frogs" of the presidential armada that visited Canada's capital for the North American Summit in 2007.