Former Presidential helicopter redelivered to the Egyptian Government

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – 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.

Photo 1: “The VH-3A Sea King when it arrived for refurbishment at Clayton International.” U.S. Navy photo.

Photo 2: “The same VH-3A Sea King after refurbishment at Clayton international, ready for redelivery to the Egyptian Government.” U.S. Navy photo.