Former Presidential Helicopter Redelivered to Egyptian Government


NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (June 17, 2009) – The Presidential helicopter presented by former President Richard Nixon to Egypt’s President Anwar Sadat in 1974 has been redelivered to the Egyptian government in a ceremony held May 14 at Clayton International in Peachtree, Ga.

The VH-3A Sea King was completely rebuilt and outfitted with new engines, a heavier-duty transmission, a new, non-folding aft fuselage, a new, non-folding main rotor head and a new, executive-level interior.

”The Sea King arrived a little more than a year ago at Clayton International as a stripped shell, with most of the parts in boxes,” said Capt. James “Walleye” Wallace, Support and Commercial Derivative Aircraft Program Manager, PMA-207. “What you see before you is a testament to the craftsman here turning a stripped shell into a state-of-the-art executive helicopter and delivering it on time and on budget.”

“I also want to thank my Egyptian H-3 team, which was lead by John Gernand, for their dedicated work making this program a success story for everyone involved,” said Wallace.

This VH-3A Sea King was one of eight built for VIP transport and flew Presidents Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon before being presented to Egypt’s President Sadat in 1974.

PMA-207 is naval aviation’s expert at acquiring, fielding, and supporting special mission and commercial derivative aircraft using the best commercial concepts benefiting the Department of Defense.

Featured Sponsor

AMSOIL Jay
Jay Hansen, independent AMSOIL dealer.

Reader Comments

Featured Sponsor

Brinsfield-Echols Funeral Home, P.A.
The Golden Rule Funeral Home, serving all of Southern Maryland.

Need Legal Representation?

Five So. Maryland locations to serve you. Personal Injury, Criminal Defense, DUI Defense.

Follow SoMd HL News