By Landry Brewer
A retired Marine One just got a fresh coat of paint in Washita County.
The aircraft flew from Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, to Premium Aerospace Center Oklahoma in Burns Flat for restoration.
The freshly-painted helicopter was recently unveiled during a ceremony at PAC that featured the company’s owners and Burns Flat personnel as well as State Sen. Brent Howard and State Rep. Nick Archer.
This special helicopter joined the Presidential Squadron, HMX-1—Marine Helicopter Squadron One—which provides all helicopter transportation for the President domestically and overseas, on February 25, 1970.
"It spent its entire career—from the Nixon administration to the Obama administration—with the squadron and flew missions for the President all over the world," said Ed Farris, President of the National United States Armed Forces Museum.
In addition to transporting the President and Vice President, Marine Helicopter Squadron One is also responsible for transporting cabinet members, visiting heads of state, and other VIPs as directed by the White House and Marine Corps.
When the President is on board, the squadron helicopter's call sign is Marine One.
The recently-restored helicopter was retired in 2014 and placed in storage at Davis Monthan Air Force Base near Tucson. It flew from Monthan AFB to Burns Flat to be refurbished.
"PAC was able to prepare, completely paint and stencil the aircraft within five days," Farris said. "PAC did a fantastic restoration; the staff was exceptional."
The helicopter left Burns Flat for its new home in Texas. The former Marine One will be displayed at Ellington Joint Field Reserve Base in Houston where it will also be used for training and educational purposes.
