Marine One is the Presidential helicopter that flies President of United States in the same way as the Air Force One aircraft does. It differs from Air Force One which is a jumbo jet and Marine One is a helicopter, but both are equipped with modern safety, technology and flawless security. Marine One is a call sign for US Marine Corps aircraft, which is normally a helicopter that carries the President of the United States from the White House lawn to the Air Force Base.
The President then switches over to Air Force One aircraft, which then transports the President. Apart from carrying US President to the Air Force Base, Marine One has much more responsibilities and roles. Conditionally higher ranking officials can also use Marine One for their transportation.
Marine One is utilized for short trips in United States and abroad, hence it can be taken along with the President, folded or stored in a larger aircraft. Since Marine One carries the leader of the world, it is equipped with extreme security measures, which does not fly alone, but many identical Marine One helicopters fly along with the President’s Marine One helicopter. These helicopters frequently change their position and location so that would be impossible for anybody to identify the actual Marine One in which the President is airborne. Every Marine One is equipped with state of the art security and technology. Whenever Marine One lands on any particular place, the President is greeted and received by an armed Marine guard.
The pilots associated with Marine One do not wear their usual pilot’s uniform but they are dressed in Marine Blue Uniform. All Marine One operations are taken care by Marine ‘Nighthawk’ Squadron HMX-1. Marine One Foxtrot is a call sign when there are any extra passengers such as President’s family or other executives with the President. Marine Two is a call sign when Vice President of United States flies in Marine One helicopter.
It was in 1957, when D. D. Eisenhower wanted to travel quickly to his home in Rhode Island, but Air Force One aircraft was very large for his short trip as well as the air traffic management would disrupt by motorcade transport, hence Bell UH-13J Sioux was the first helicopter used by the President for travelling.
Over the years many helicopters were used as Marine One such as the UH-1 Huey Bell, the CH-34C Choctaw Sikorsky, the CH-3 Sea King Sikorsky, CH-46 Sea Knight Boeing, UH-60 Black Hawk Sikorsky and 47-J Sioux Bell. Alphanumeric designation of the aircraft was updated by 'VH' from 'CH' symbol to depict VIP role of that particular aircraft.
