VH-3D/UH-3H Sea King
The Sikorsky VH-3D has served
as a presidential transport since
1976 when it replaced the earlier
VH-3A. Operated by marine
helicopter squadron HMX-1’s
Executive Flight Detachment
(EFD), which is stationed at
MCAF Quantico, Virginia, the
helicopters are primarily tasked
to provide short-range airlift
for the president, his sta and
other high-ranking government
o cials. When serving as a
presidential transport, the VH-3D
is assigned the call sign ‘Marine
One’. In addition to 11 VH-3Ds,
HMX-1 operates a single UH-3D
as a training platform. It had
previously been own by the
US Navy as an UH-3H and was
converted to UH-3D standardfor HMX-1. The Sea King eet
also includes a single VH-3A
that serves as a test platform
with air test and evaluation
squadron HX-21 at NAS Patuxent
River, Maryland, under the
designation NVH-3A.
Phase-out of the VH-3D is
scheduled to begin in FY 2020,
when the new Sikorsky VH-92A
begins entering service. The
aircraft are undergoing a service
life extension program (SLEP)
and receiving sustainment
modi cations that will ensure
mission-e ectiveness until the
last Sea Kings are retired in
mid-FY 2022. The VH-3D cockpit
upgrade incorporates night vision
compatibility and related cockpit
lighting, GPS moving maps, anda satellite weather feed into the
aircraft. The VH-3D is powered
by two General Electric T58-GE-
400B turboshaft engines and is own by a standard crew of three,
comprising the pilot, co-pilot
and a crew chief. It is capable of
carrying up to 10 passengers.Squadron Location Aircraft Command Tail code
HMX-1 ‘Nighthawks’
(see note 1)MCAF Quantico,
Virginia VH-3D, UH-3D DC(A)
HX-21 ‘Blackjack’
(see note 2)NAS Patuxent River,
Maryland NVH-3A NAWCAD HX
1 Presidential mission is under the operational control of the White House Military O ce. Test
and evaluation mission is under the operational control of commander, Operational Test and
Evaluation Force (COTEF).
2 HX-21 is a US Navy squadron that is jointly sta ed by navy and marine personnel.UH-1Y Venom
Known as the Venom, the UH-1Y
is the most capable version of
the venerable ‘Huey’ built to date.
Although based on the earlier
UH-1N, little remains from that
aircraft. Bell Helicopter initially
upgraded two UH-1Ns to UH-1Y
con guration under the H-1
upgrades program and the new
model carried out its maiden ight
in December 2001. Although
the original H-1 upgrade plans
called for up to 100 UH-1Ns to
be remanufactured to the later
con guration, in April 2005 the
decision was made to produce
new airframes. Only 10 UH-1N
conversions were carried out.
Developed alongside the AH-1Z,
the UH-1Y shares 85 per cent of itscomponents including the General
Electric T700-GE-401C turboshaft
engines, drivetrain, four-blade
all-composite main and tail rotors,
tail boom and integrated digital
cockpits with the attack helicopter.
The UH-1Y also provided increased
load-carrying ability, greater range
and survivability compared to the
UH-1N. The Venom is equipped
with the FLIR Systems BRITE Star
Block II electro-optical/infra-red
sensor and two external stores
stations allow it to carry a variety of
o ensive weapons.
Only four HH-1Ns remain on the
inventory, used for search and
rescue (SAR) duties at MCAS Yuma,
Arizona. Retirement of the last Twin
Hueys is planned for 2018, ending a career that began in 1974. The
mission at Yuma will be assumed by
a private contractor.
The UH-1Y achieved IOC in August
2008 and deployed for the rst time
as part of the 13th MEU in January- Conversion from the UH-1N
was completed in FY 2015 and the
last of 160 UH-1Ys was ordered in
FY 2016. The Venom is assigned
to seven operational active-duty
squadrons and an FRS that each
operate 12 UH-1Ys. The structure of
the active-duty HMLA squadrons
allows them to be deployed as
detachments of ve AH-1Zs or
AH-1Ws and four UH-1Ys. Nine of
the helicopters are assigned to each
of the two Marine Corps Reserve
squadrons. Three UH-1Ys support
operational test and evaluation
projects with VMX-1.
In December 2017, 146 Venoms
were in service with the Fleet Marine
Force and the UH-1Y is expected to
achieve FOC in FY 2021. Planned
upgrades include an integrated
aircraft survivability equipment
(IASE) suite featuring advanced
missile and laser warning systems.
A full motion video (FMV) capability
will further be added.A VH-3D of HMX-1 ‘Nighthawks’. USAF/TSgt Robert CloysSquadron Location Aircraft Command Tail code
HMLA-167 ‘Warriors’ MCAS New River, North Carolina UH-1Y MAG-29 TV
HMLA-169 ‘Vipers’ MCAS Camp Pendleton, California UH-1Y MAG-39 SN
HMLA-267 ‘Stingers’ MCAS Camp Pendleton, California UH-1Y MAG-39 UV
HMLA-269 ‘Gunrunners’MCAS New River, North Carolina UH-1Y MAG-29 HF
HMLAT-303 (FRS) ‘Atlas’MCAS Camp Pendleton, California UH-1Y MAG-39 QT
HMLA-367 ‘Scarface’ MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii UH-1Y MAG-24 VT
HMLA-369 ‘Gun ghters’MCAS Camp Pendleton, California UH-1Y MAG-39 SM
HMLA-469 ‘Vengeance’MCAS Camp Pendleton, California UH-1Y MAG-39 SE
HMLA-773(-) ‘Red Dog’
(see note 1)
JB McGuire-Dix-
Lakehurst, New Jersey UH-1Y MAG-49 WG
HMLA-773 Det A
‘Nomads’
NAS JRB New Orleans,
Louisiana UH-1Y MAG-49 MM
HMLA-775 ‘Coyotes’
(see note 2)
MCAS Camp Pendleton,
California UH-1Y MAG-41 WR
HX-21 ‘Blackjack’
(see note 3)
NAS Patuxent River,
Maryland UH-1Y NAWCAD HX
MCAS Yuma SRU
(see note 4) MCAS Yuma, Arizona HH-1N MCI-W 5Y
VMX-1 MCAS Yuma, Arizona UH-1Y COTEF MV
1 HMLA-773(-) relocated to JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey and integrated with Det B in 2016.
2 HMLA-775 was reactivated in October 2016.
3 HX-21 is a US Navy squadron that is jointly sta ed by Navy and Marine Corps personnel.
4 HH-1Ns will be retired in 2018 and replaced by contractor-operated SAR aircraft.UH-1Ys during the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course
at MCAS Yuma. USMC/Sgt David BickelUS NAVY & MARINE CORPS AIR POWER YEARBOOK 2018
(^94) AIR POWER REVIEW
86-99 Marine Tables C.indd 94 01/06/2018 14:05