A VH-60N helicopter was flown from the United States to Hanoi on Tuesday for President Joe Biden’s upcoming visit.
A C-17 Globemaster transport plane landed at Noi Bai airport at 5:25 p.m. and stopped at the hangar to unload its cargo, including the helicopter and several carefully wrapped packages.
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A C-17 Globemaster aircraft stops at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi on September 5, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy |
The VH-60N is a VIP version of the UH-60 helicopter featuring four-bladed main and tail rotors and powered by two General Electric T700 turboshaft engines.
The helicopter is used to transport senior US government officials and is referred to as “Marine One” when carrying the US President.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first to use a Marine One, in 1957, when he traveled aboard a Bell UH-13J Sioux.
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A VH-60N helicopter (C) is unloaded from a C-17 plane at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi on September 5, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy |
The helicopter can travel at a maximum speed of 295 km/h (183 mph) and is still functional when one of its engines fails, to ensure the safety of its VIP passenger.
There were five C-17 flights to Noi Bai last week, carrying cars and other equipment to service Biden’s visit.
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An American secret agent and his dog arrived in Noi Bai with the C-17 on September 4, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy |
Biden is expected to visit Vietnam on September 10 and 11, at the invitation of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.
The visit will celebrate 10 years of comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and the United States.