Donald Trump is planning to pave a permanent helipad on the White House South Lawn to prevent the new Marine One helicopter from scorching the grass. The helipad would be the latest in a series of sweeping renovations, including the 90,000-square-foot ballroom that required demolishing the East Wing.
The Culprit: VH-92A Patriot
The issue stems from the VH-92A Patriot, Lockheed Martin's $200 million Sikorsky aircraft, which is replacing the VH-3D Sea King that has served every president since Gerald Ford. The Patriot's exhaust can burn the grass, especially in hot and dry conditions, according to sources familiar with the plans.
A government watchdog flagged in 2018 that the Patriot's engines and auxiliary power unit emit enough heat to damage landing zones like the South Lawn. Built on the commercial S-92 airframe, the Patriot is significantly larger than its predecessor, with a maximum takeoff weight of 27,700 pounds—about six tons heavier than the Sea King—and runs hotter and harder.
Operational History
The Patriot made its public debut at Trump's 2019 Independence Day military parade but didn't transport a president until August 2024, when Joe Biden used it in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention. Trump has flown on the Patriot multiple times outside Washington, but neither he nor Biden has ever used it to land on or depart from the South Lawn.
The decision to install a permanent helipad follows years of failed attempts to modify the Patriot for safe South Lawn operations. The Sea King, by contrast, lands on small boards slipped beneath its wheels moments before touchdown. The Marine Corps had planned to retire the Sea King this year but will now keep the aging fleet operational until at least 2027.
Mar-a-Lago Helipad Plans
Trump is also expected to install a helipad at Mar-a-Lago this summer when the club closes for the season. The Palm Beach town council is considering a proposal that would allow the president to continue using the helipad after leaving office, which the Secret Service argues is necessary as long as Trump continues living at the estate.
