What is Donald Trump’s helicopter Marine One? US President’s official aircraft
US presidents since 1957 have used helicopters as a quick way to get about with Marine One being the call sign of any US Marine Corps aircraft carrying the current leader
US President Donald Trump can often be seen getting in or out of the presidential helicopter known as Marine One but there is not just one.
The helicopters are known as "White Tops" due to the colours they are painted in.
What is Donald Trump's helicopter Marine One?
Marine One actually refers to the call sign used by any aircraft operated by the US Marine Corps carrying the current president of the United States.
It usually denotes a helicopter operated by Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1)
There are actually two different types of helicopters used by the president.
A large Sikorsky VH-3D Sea King or a newer, smaller VH-60N "White Hawk".
HMX-1 operates a fleet of 35 helicopters
The helicopters are called "White Tops" due to the aircrafts' top halves are painted white with the bottom half dark green.
Marine One is also used to transport senior Cabinet staff and foreign dignitaries.
More than 800 Marines supervise the operation of the Marine One fleet, which is based in MCAF Quantico, Virginia.
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What security measures are used by Marine One?
Marine One always flies in a group of as many as five identical helicopters with the others acting as decoys.
The helicopters then shift in formation during a flight as a way to not reveal which aircraft is carrying the president.
Marine One is also equipped with standard military anti-missile countermeasures such as flares to counter heat-seeking missiles.
It also has measures to counter radar-guided missiles as well as infrared countermeasures.