Presidential helicopter

[sprocky]

While reading this:
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... er-379466/
a question came to my mind (might be easy to answer for Americans but being European...):
Why is the Navy operating the Presidential helicopters and not the Army or Air Force?

Thanks in advance for enlighting a dumb European

[Victory103]

The rotary wing division belongs to the Marines, or actually Dept of the Navy. HMX-1 is the USMC squadron that currently operates the POTUS rotary assets (H3/H60/H46/H53).

[TheFoufure]

The rotary wing division belongs to the Marines, or actually Dept of the Navy. HMX-1 is the USMC squadron that currently operates the POTUS rotary assets (H3/H60/H46/H53).

Yes, but there are also Hélit units depending of US Army or Air Force. Why don't take one of them ??

[maverick69]

"On September 7, 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower was vacationing at his summer home in Newport, Rhode Island, when his immediate presence was needed at the White House. Typically, the return trip to Washington, D.C. required an hour-long ferry ride across Narragansett Bay to Air Force One, followed by a 45-minute flight to Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, and a 20-minute motorcade ride to the White House.[6] Realizing the urgent need for his presence in Washington, President Eisenhower directed his staff to find a faster way to Air Force One. An HMX-1, UH-34 helicopter was on Aquidneck Island in case of an emergency and could be used to fly the President to his awaiting aircraft. President Eisenhower approved the idea, and after the 7-minute flight a precedent was set.

Shortly thereafter, a naval aide to the President asked HMX-1 to evaluate landing helicopters on the south lawn of the White House. Preliminary assessment and trial flights concluded that ample room was present for a safe landing and departure. Formal procedures were finalized and HMX-1 began a long career of flying the President of the United States to and from the South Lawn and Andrews AFB, the home of Air Force One. Initially, this function was shared with the Army, but in 1976, the Marine Corps was assigned the sole responsibility and mission of providing helicopter support to the President worldwide." (font Wikipedia HMX-1's History)

[Stewart Pearson]

As a basic rule of thumb;

USAF - fixed wing flights
USMC - Chopper flights
USN - Medical facillities and personnel
Army - Motor Transport.

[sprocky]

Thank you all for your response. Especially I like Stew's explanation

In our country (Germany) it is less complicated.

Fixed wing: Air Force
Non-fixed wing (including ships and cars): never heard of

Well, it is a fact that we never heard of "Luftwaffe One". Actually I have no jack clue about the German Chancellor's call sign