The presidential helicopter group, Marine Helicopter Squadron One, Saturday debuted its new MV-22 Ospreys, and will receive a total of 12 of the tilt-rotor aircraft, none of which will be used to move the president, and all of which cost more than $10,000 per hour to operate, according to the GAO. The aircraft were used over the weekend to carry staff, Secret Service and news media, and will be phased in to replace CH-46E helicopters currently used by the group. The cost for the aircraft is currently estimated at roughly $70 million each. Relative to the CH-46E Sea Knight the Ospreys are replacing, the new aircraft offers some performance advantages. It also carries the memory of some early fatal accidents.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/recent-updates/business-military/presidential-transport-group-gets-osprey-tilt-rotor