Next President's trick new Marine One copter is better than yours

There's a new presidential helicopter in town, and while George W. will have to run for a third term to get a shot at it, the next president of the United States is a lock for showing up on the White House lawn in this new ride. The Marine One VH-71 is a good many years in production, and will finally show up in 2009. There's seating room for 14 passengers, along with a kitchen, bathroom, high-speed communications suite, sound and vibration reduction and missile protection. The new choppers -- Lockheed Martin is building 23 of them by 2018 -- have a 350 mile range, compared to the current 100 miles of the VH-3Ds, and are being billed an "Oval Office in the sky." There was really never a better time to throw your hat in the ring for "leader of the free world."

[joe23521 @ Aug 27th 2007 2:58PM]

Looks like the Clintons got a new family car.

[Jerry @ Aug 27th 2007 4:28PM]

Personally I prefer my ride to this one....
http://www.jeroldbillings.com/my_chopper.jpg

Don't knock the bad photoshop job, I'm a developer not an artist. :-)

[oshean @ Aug 28th 2007 11:42AM]

Cue Airwolf music

[Alex @ Aug 27th 2007 2:59PM]

want to trade for my car? its a volvo, can withstand any missiles!

[Nushio @ Aug 27th 2007 3:02PM]

So can roaches... That doesn't mean they're good.

[Alex @ Aug 27th 2007 3:07PM]

yeah... but I wanted to trade for a transport vechile not a bug.. Anyways don't want to start a argument.

[Chekote @ Aug 27th 2007 4:53PM]

"Anyways don't want to start a argument."

You're on the internet. You don't have a choice! XD

[Rainier @ Aug 27th 2007 3:03PM]

That paintjob looks like it would glow in the dark.

[riggs @ Aug 27th 2007 3:06PM]

looks like a praying mantis to me

[Rainier @ Aug 27th 2007 3:08PM]

Yes it does look like a praying mantis!

[Mike @ Aug 27th 2007 3:27PM]

That's right. It was done specifically for Hilary!

;-)

[anonymouspimp @ Aug 27th 2007 5:40PM]

HAHAHAHA dammit Mike!

You beat me too it!

[Yimmy @ Aug 27th 2007 3:07PM]

Well, if it works I'll take a dozen. Can I buy them in 12 packs? Or maybe sans government markup?

[EngadgetFanBoi @ Aug 27th 2007 3:09PM]

I honestly don't know much about helicopters, but isn't 350 mile range REALLY short? I mean, that couldn't take dubya (I know he won't be able to use it, but for a frame of reference) from his Texas Ranch to the White House, nor can it take him from the White House to Boston. Maybe thats just how 'coptors are, but if so, a plane is just wayy more practical.

[Eric @ Aug 27th 2007 3:16PM]

But you can't really land a jumbo jet on the White House lawn.

[Nooneworthadamn @ Aug 27th 2007 3:16PM]

Yes because the White House grounds are certainly large enough to build a runway right?

The helicopter is usually used to transport the President, guests, and staff to Camp David, or to Andrews Airforce base to where he can hitch a ride on his 747.

[Ray-- @ Aug 27th 2007 3:41PM]

I see marine one everytime the prez comes into town... he flys it from the airport to the place he's going in that town (its less trouble to the host town not having to stop traffic really). Usually there are 3 in the sky when he's moving.

[randy @ Aug 27th 2007 4:11PM]

Having the President routinely take 350 mile+ trips by rotorcraft would be extremely risky.

[daedalus @ Aug 27th 2007 3:10PM]

Next Zune color: Presidential Pea Soup

[Phil @ Aug 27th 2007 3:12PM]

Will it blend?

[Andy @ Aug 27th 2007 3:43PM]

Is this the new token dork thing to say on a blog now days? I'm guessing someone will ask if can play doom next.

[Thomas S @ Aug 27th 2007 5:44PM]

Yes, but will it play doom?

[John @ Aug 27th 2007 5:55PM]

Will it play doom whilst being blended?

[Ryan Springs @ Aug 30th 2007 6:47PM]

I, for one, welcome our new Doom playing blending helicopter overlords.

[coplice @ Aug 27th 2007 3:15PM]

man they better chang the paint :p
make all white with red circle and a black spot in the center

[Mr. Picklesworth @ Aug 27th 2007 3:29PM]

Hm... the Target copter? They have enough terrorist attack bull's-eyes already.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117605694694751455074.000436ad28cd938cdb00d&ll=42.006962,-87.8868&spn=0.002491,0.004474&t=k&z=18&om=1

[Eric @ Aug 27th 2007 3:42PM]

Fun fact: The Target corporate jets have only half the target logo on them. They decided not to paint a full target on the plane.

[Arthur Nonamiss @ Aug 27th 2007 3:50PM]

@coplice

This is the Secret Service. We know who you are. We know where you live. Stay put, and someone will be around shortly to take you to Gitmo for making terrorist threats against the President of the United States.

[Handle IT @ Aug 27th 2007 3:18PM]

The best thing about this article is that it reminds me that the scourge that is the George W Bush presidency will come to an end.

[randy @ Aug 27th 2007 3:44PM]

Well congratulations on being the first depressed loser to come here just to troll on the President. Why don't you go commiserate with your bipolar, trenchcoat-wearing, Bush-bashing buddies at DIGG.com and leave this helicopter thread in peace.

[jbcaro @ Aug 27th 2007 3:50PM]

Looks like someone got up on the far,far right side of the bed this morning. ;-)))

[randy @ Aug 27th 2007 3:53PM]

Umm, yeah with your momma too

[strider_mt2k @ Aug 27th 2007 4:40PM]

Hey, THAT'S inclusionist!

[Mr. Yetti @ Aug 28th 2007 12:45PM]

Is it 2008 yet?

(plz?)

[triple x @ Aug 27th 2007 3:28PM]

which one of you voted for Bush???
seriously, i dont know any of my friends who did!

inspirational thought though... if Bush can be president, i can do anything!

[Murc @ Aug 27th 2007 8:24PM]

I voted for Bush.

And in 08', I'm still not sure....I like Romney a little better then Rudy...SO I'll go with Mit.

[Jeff @ Aug 27th 2007 3:29PM]

Don't even JOKE about a third Bush term!

[DT @ Aug 27th 2007 3:41PM]

Sweet Rudy-copter!

[tony @ Aug 27th 2007 4:17PM]

Ahahahahahahahahahaaaaa!!!!
Oh... that's a good one.

[Dave @ Aug 27th 2007 4:18PM]

This helicopter is a British/ Italian design and is called the EH 101 Merlin. In the US Lockheed Martin and Bell have joined up to sell it. The helicopter is much favoured by troops of all nations in Iraq and elsewhere. The web site is at: -

http://www.agustawestland.com/products01_01.asp?id_product=25

It is a very nice heliopter

[Israeli Pride @ Aug 27th 2007 6:24PM]

Great job finding the link of the helicopter!

[Harkonian @ Aug 28th 2007 10:45AM]

How the hell do they expect me to buy one when they don't have a shopping cart or paypal on their website?

[Adam @ Aug 27th 2007 3:49PM]

I might be wrong, but I think nautical terminology applies -- the 'copter has a galley, not a kitchen... just splitting hairs...

[Donald @ Aug 27th 2007 3:50PM]

Ron Paul is pleased at this development.

[thesawzall @ Aug 27th 2007 4:32PM]

You didn't mention the biggest controversy: This bird isn't American designed. The EH101 is a British design.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/us101.htm

[Will Wheeler @ Aug 27th 2007 4:49PM]

The Presidential helicopter will most likey be painted with some scheme of the traditional olive green, and white. This is either a test aircraft, or a similar helicopter being used for search and rescue, or medi-vac flights. Not the actual Marine One.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/us101/images/US101_2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/us101/us1012.html&h=438&w=620&sz=44&tbnid=S7HM_0l1KkzndM:&tbnh=96&tbnw=136&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmarine%2Bone%26um%3D1&start=2&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=2

[misspistola @ Aug 27th 2007 4:36PM]

the green is zinc chromate primer, which is typical on aircraft airframes. also, am i the only one getting sick of the stupid article headlines? "Next President's trick new Marine One copter is better than yours"? what the hell? please, the next time you get the urge to be "cute" or "clever", please stab your genitals repeatedly with an xacto knife.

[strider_mt2k @ Aug 27th 2007 4:42PM]

Spoken like someone with helicopter issues.

[tom @ Aug 27th 2007 5:23PM]

Someone needs to get a sense of humour.

[John @ Aug 27th 2007 5:57PM]

Are you claiming yours is better? Because you really don't want to get into a pissing contest with the US government.