Biden takes inaugural flight in long-delayed new 'Marine One' helicopter

Biden boarded the Sikorsky-made helicopter after arriving on Air Force One in Chicago, where he attended the Democratic National Convention. The maiden presidential voyage carried him from O'Hare International Airport to the parking lot of Chicago's Soldier Field, often used as a landing zone for presidential travel.

It marked a crucial milestone in a two-decade-long process to replace the Vietnam-era helicopters that have carried presidents, in some cases, since the 1970s.

The Bush administration kicked off the initial effort to purchase new helicopters in an effort to improve communications and mission capabilities after September 11, 2001, but President Barack Obama scrapped it after rampant cost overruns.

The Obama administration started the new program, and the helicopter — branded the "Patriot" by its manufacturer — made its public debut during the Trump administration.

Marine Helicopter Squadron One, which operates the aircraft, has used the VH-92 helicopters for several years in regular service, including test flights around Washington, D.C., and to carry White House staff and security personnel.

However, issues with the secure communications system on board — required so the president can carry out classified conversations and make military decisions in an emergency — as well as a tendency to scorch the White House South Lawn led to years of delays to the program.

The Marine Corps reported last year that the communications issues was resolved, but it was not clear whether modifications to the exhaust system eliminated the threat to the White House grass.

The final VH-92A helicopter was delivered earlier this month, giving the USMC 21 operational aircraft and two for testing. The total program cost for the 23 aircraft was about $5 billion.

The new helicopters are based on the commercially available Sikorsky S-92 and are larger and have longer range than the older VH-3D and VH-60N models.