Presidential helicopter aces maiden test flight
The VH-71, soon to go into service as America's presidential helicopter.
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Article Summary
July 9, 2007 The new American presidential helicopter will be the most technologically advanced in the world, offering the most powerful leader on the planet a virtual "oval office in the sky." With ground-breaking safety, efficiency, defense and communications features built in, the Lockheed-Martin VH-71 fleet will have nearly double the cabin space of the current Sikorsky VH-3 Sea Kings that are reaching the end of their service life. The US$6.1 billion project recently completed an impressive maiden flight, up to a ground speed of around 155mph, and "Marine One" is expected to go into an Initial Operational Capacity by late 2009... a few months too late for George Bush to get a ride.
