Biden’s New Chopper Is Demoted After Scorching White House Lawn
- New presidential helicopters delayed under $5 billion program
- Marine One helicopter is iconic symbol of American president
Joe Biden on the South Lawn of the White House after arriving on Marine One in Washington, DC, on March 21.
Photographer: Samuel Corum/Sipa/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
The new presidential helicopter has been demoted to backup duty because Lockheed Martin Corp. still can’t figure out how to keep it from scorching the White House’s South Lawn.
The VH-92 Patriot is landing only on paved runways for now, flying missions with White House officials or Secret Service staff instead of carrying President Joe Biden. The problem is down to an issue first identified in 2018 — the helicopter’s spinning rotors and engine exhaust sometimes scorch the grass where it lands.