HMX-1

Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1), "The Nighthawks", based at Marine Corps Air Facility, Quantico, Virginia, is responsible for the helicopter transportation of the president of the United States, vice president, Cabinet members and VIPs. When the President is aboard, the Marine helicopter uses the call sign "Marine One."

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The first official presidential helicopter was the VH-34, beginning operations in September 1957. Since 1976 the U.S. Marine Corps has had sole responsibility for presidential helicopter transportation. The current fleet is made up of the VH-3D Sea King and the VH-60N Blackhawk which entered service with the squadron in 1962 and 1988, respectively.

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HMX-1 is scheduled to receive 23 new Lockheed Martin's US-101 helicopters to replace the current fleet by 2008.

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The presidential and VIP flights fall under "Whiteside", the Executive Flight Detachment. Most activities of Whiteside are directed by the White House Military Office. Whiteside, although based at Quatico, Virginia, operates extensively out of an alert facility at Naval Air Station Anacostia in Washington, DC, which conjoins Bolling Air Force Base. Operations by "Greenside", which is the rest of HMX-1, include operational test and evaluation, such as with the V-22 Osprey, a vertical take-off and landing aircraft, and support of exercises and training evolutions for the Marine Corps Combat Development Command at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.

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Quantico, Virginia: Quantico, Virginia is in Prince William County, 23 miles north-northeast of Fredericksburg, Virginia, near Dumfries and Stafford along Highway 619. It is surrounded by Marine Corps Base Quantico and the Potomac River. It is located south of the mouth of Quantico Creek on the Potomac. As of the 2000 ...

Helicopter: A helicopter is an aircraft which is lifted and propelled by one or more horizontal rotors (propellers). Helicopters are classified as rotary-wing aircraft to distinguish them from conventional fixed-wing aircraft. The word helicopter is derived from the Greek words helix (spiral) and pteron (wing)...

President of the United States: The President of the United States (often abbreviated "POTUS") is the head of state of the United States. Under the U.S. Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The full title is President of the United States of A...