White House Plans Granite Helipad for Modernized Marine One Fleet
White House building granite helipad for new Marine One helicopters; Sikorsky funds project.
Event / Politics
White House Helipad Construction
President Trump announced construction of a granite helipad on the White House South Lawn, funded by Sikorsky Aircraft at a cost of $5-6 million, to address heat and downwash damage from new VH-92A Patriot helicopters. The project is part of multiple ongoing White House construction initiatives.
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2026-08-16 to 2026-11-13 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 7 Jul, 00:53 UTC
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What happened
Trump undertaking multiple White House construction and renovation projects
President Trump has overseen numerous construction and renovation projects at the White House, including demolishing the East Wing for a sprawling ballroom, renovating the Rose Garden with a patio space, redoing the Lincoln Bedroom bathroom, renovating the Palm Room, placing new flagpoles on the north and south lawns, and revamping the columns on the building's north side. Trump stated that crews removed approximately 150 years of accumulated paint from the columns.
Marine One helicopter modernization program spans multiple administrations
The effort to modernize the presidential helicopter fleet began in the early 2000s under President George W. Bush but faced cost overruns and was scrapped by the Obama administration. The program was restarted by Obama but encountered technical issues. In May 2014, the military awarded Sikorsky a contract to build the VH-92A Patriot helicopter, with 23 aircraft delivered in 2024. President Biden took the first flight on one of the new helicopters in 2024.
New Marine One VH-92A helicopters too powerful to land on White House lawn without damage
The new VH-92A Patriot helicopters delivered by Sikorsky in 2024 for use as Marine One are more powerful than previous aircraft and generate excessive heat and downwash that damage the White House South Lawn. The helicopters' exhaust vents aim heat downward, scorching the grass. As a result, the new aircraft have seen limited service and have not been used at the White House, with older VH-3D helicopters remaining in use.
Sikorsky Aircraft paying for White House helipad project
Sikorsky Aircraft, the helicopter manufacturer, is funding the full cost of the White House helipad project, estimated at $5 million to $6 million. According to Trump, Sikorsky agreed to pay because they 'felt a little guilty' that the new fleet of helicopters was too powerful to land at the White House. Lockheed Martin confirmed the contribution was made to the Trust for the National Mall, the National Park Service's nonprofit organization.
President Trump announces construction of granite helipad on White House South Lawn
President Donald Trump announced on Monday that a granite helicopter landing pad is being constructed on the White House South Lawn. The helipad features the White House seal carved in granite and is estimated to cost between $5 million and $6 million. Trump stated the project would be privately funded by Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin.
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