{"id":67414,"date":"2026-09-22T21:52:04","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T19:52:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/?p=67414"},"modified":"2026-09-22T21:52:04","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T19:52:04","slug":"the-white-house-helipad-a-solution-to-the-heat-emitted-by-the-vh-92a-helicopter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/2026\/09\/22\/the-white-house-helipad-a-solution-to-the-heat-emitted-by-the-vh-92a-helicopter\/","title":{"rendered":"The White House helipad: a solution to the heat emitted by the VH-92A helicopter"},"content":{"rendered":"

U.S. President Donald Trump inaugurated a new aircraft facility at his official residence, the White House, yesterday.<\/p>\n

The problems of the VH-92A Patriot, the new US Marine One presidential helicopter<\/a><\/rel>
\nVH-60N White Hawk, the Black Hawk helicopters that transport the US president<\/a><\/rel><\/p>\n

For years, the iconic VH-3D Sea King presidential helicopters\u2014which use the call sign \"Marine One\" when transporting the president\u2014have used the White House South Lawn<\/strong> for takeoff and landing maneuvers while transporting recent U.S. presidents from their official residence to Joint Base Andrews, the base of operations for the two VC-25 presidential aircraft known by the call sign \"Air Force One\"<\/strong> that they use when one of them transports the president.<\/p>\n

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A VH-3D Sea King. It has been the most famous presidential helicopter for decades (Photo: Naval Air Systems Command<\/a>).<\/div>\n

In May 2014, the Obama administration commissioned a new presidential helicopter, the Sikorsky VH-92A Patriot<\/strong>\u2014an executive transport variant of the civilian Sikorsky S-92 model, which was developed from the Sikorsky S-70 (the civilian designation for the famous UH-60 Black Hawk). The VH-92A made its maiden flight on July 28, 2017<\/strong>, a few months after Donald Trump assumed the U.S. presidency for his first term.<\/p>\n

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A VH-3D Sea King approaching the South Lawn of the White House on July 1, 1987, during Ronald Reagan's presidency (Photo: US Department of Defense).<\/div>\n

The VH-92H program cost $5 billion for a total of 23 helicopters<\/a>: 2 test units and 21 production units. The VH-92A has the same passenger capacity as the VH-3D: 14 \u200b\u200bseats.<\/strong> It has a four-person crew: pilot, co-pilot, communications operator, and crew chief. The VH-92A features more modern avionics than its predecessor<\/strong>, has a slightly longer range (998 km compared to the VH-3D's 965 km), and is faster (306 km\/h compared to the VH-3D's 270 km\/h). The VH-92A is the largest presidential helicopter used by the U.S. and the first to feature a rear ramp.<\/strong> The last of the production VH-92As was delivered on August 19, 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Two VH-92A helicopters at the Marine base in Quantico, Virginia, from where HMX-1, the Marine Corps squadron in charge of the helicopters that transport the US president, operates (Photo: Marine Corps Base Quantico<\/a>\ufeff).<\/div>\n

Although the fleet of the new model was completed two years ago, the White House has continued to operate the VH-3D from the South Lawn<\/strong> because, during its first flight to the White House, the VH-92A scorched the lawn in the landing zone<\/a>\u2014not only due to engine exhaust heat redirected toward the ground by the main rotor but also because of fluid discharges. That occurred on September 22, 2018.<\/strong> According to an official report, issues with mission communication system instability and cabin interior malfunctions were also detected; these factors, combined with frequent maintenance inspections and problems with the rear airstair door components, resulted in low aircraft availability<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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The state of construction of the White House helipad as of July 10, 2026 (Photo: G. Edward Johnson<\/a>).<\/div>\n

Construction of a helipad on the South Lawn of the White House began in July, at a cost of between $5 million and $6 million<\/strong>, funded by the manufacturer of the VH-92A. Donald Trump explained it this way<\/a>: \"SSikorsky is paying for it. You know why? Because they didn't tell us how powerful these helicopter were and they felt a little bit guilty.<\/strong>\"<\/em><\/p>\n

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The White House helipad, almost completed, in a photo taken on September 9, 2026 (Photo: G. Edward Johnson<\/a>).<\/div>\n

On Monday, September 21, the White House announced the inauguration of the helipad<\/a>, marked by the first takeoff of a VH-92A<\/strong> carrying Donald Trump to Joint Base Andrews. The first VH-92A to take off from the White House helipad is aircraft 169188<\/strong>, with construction number 92-0336.<\/p>\n

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Donald Trump inaugurating the White House helipad on Monday, September 21, 2026 (Photo: The White House<\/a>).<\/div>\n

The helipad has been constructed using special white granite quarried in California.<\/a> During the unveiling, Trump asserted that the granite has a lifespan of one million years: \"It will never break. It will never leak.\"<\/em><\/strong> Trump also stated that the stone can withstand approximately 35,000 pounds per square inch of pressure, compared to the 5,000 pounds per square inch that heavy-duty concrete can withstand.<\/p>\n

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Donald Trump heading to the access door of VH-92A 169188 on Monday, September 21, 2026, after the opening of the White House helipad (Photo: The White House<\/a>).<\/div>\n

The U.S. President noted that work on the helipad was delayed by a week<\/strong> due to the slope at which it was initially being built. The helipad is accessible from the Diplomatic Reception Room on the ground floor of the White House, and a path\u2014also made of white granite\u2014has been constructed to connect the two.<\/p>\n

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The first takeoff of a VH-92A, the 169188th, from the White House helipad after its inauguration on Monday, September 21, 2026. The helicopter was carrying President Trump (Photo: The White House<\/a>).<\/div>\n

You can watch a video here of the first flight of a VH-92A from the White House helipad<\/strong>, broadcast by Magno News<\/a>:<\/p>\n