A few points about this bullshit re: Marine One not flying due to rain (Text edited)

(This post has been edited several times for grammar, spelling and accuracy pertaining to information I was not previously aware of)

The Marine Corps Squadron charged with transporting the president via Rotary Wing Aircraft is "Marine Helicopter Squadron One", or HMX-1, based out of Quantico, VA. They operate two primary helicopters that transport the President.

The Sikorsky VH-3D Sea King, the one we are most familiar with and the one commonly seen landing on the South Lawn of the White House;





(This is new to me, so I stand corrected! ) A Sea King being loaded onto a C-17;



However, very often they do not carry a Sea King aboard either the C-5 or the C-17 airlifter, so when the President travels and a helicopter is brought along, it is sometimes the VH-60N, which is the executive version of the UH-60 Blackhawk.

The H-60 easily fits inside the large Air Force transport aircraft;


To fly for HMX-1 is a HUGE honor for a Marine Helicopter Pilot and only the best of the best rise to this level.

The Sikorsky dash 60 is used by every branch of the armed forces and by several overseas customers. Over 4000 have been built of the numerous variants.

BOTH OF THESE ARE ALL WEATHER HELICOPTERS. The Coast Guard flies the UH-60 into storms to save lives.

(For posterity, I am going to re-write that sentence; )

The Coast Guard flies these fucking things into storms of all types, INCLUDING KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS, SEVERE SNOW STORMS, HEAVY WINDS AND DOWNPOURS to save lives. The people that fly the H-60 are well aware of it's capabilities and.....

There is NOTHING stopping one of these aircraft from safely operating in a gentle French rainstorm.

Nothing.

Except a petulant president who didn't wanna go out today.