VH-3A Sea King

Delivered to the fleet in 1962, the VH-3A on display served in the Executive Flight Detachment of Marine Helicopter Squadron (HMX) 1 during the presidencies of Richard M. Nixon and Gerald R. Ford.  No single helicopter is called “Marine One,” with any one of HMX-1’s aircraft assuming that name when the President is on board.  The white top portion of the familiar paint scheme on board “Marine One” originally appeared in an effort to make the aircraft cooler for its passengers prior to the availability of air-conditioned compartments.