Spectacular Photos of Presidential Helicopters Over Glendale

Today President Barack Obama visited Dreamworks Animation in Glendale, marking his second visit to Glendale as President. His retinue of helicopters landed at Toll Middle School in Glendale before the motorcade departed for Dreamworks. I took these photos of the helicopters departing Toll's playground.

The President travels in one of two identical VH-3D Sea King helicopters - the helicopter with the President aboard is known as Marine One. The two Sea Kings were also accompanied by two enormous CH-53E Super Stallion support helicopters. Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) is the squadron responsible for Presidential helicopter transport.

 

Earlier in the day, I was able to catch a glimpse in the distance of Marine One descending towards Toll.

This video from Father Vazken Movsesian of St. Peter's Armenian church shows the Presidential entourage's visit to Toll most comprehensively, as it was taken from inside the police perimeter.

Here's the best video I've found of all four helicopters lifting off from Toll.

Here's MY video of all four helicopters lifting off. Apologies for the shaky quality, I was shooting the video with my left hand and taking the stills you see above with my right!

Related:

• A History of Presidential Visits to Glendale

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Updated**: *NOT* President Obama In the Skies Above Glendale

This afternoon I was at the Glendale Train Station taking some photos when I heard helicopters in the distance.  I looked up and saw two Sikorsky Sea King helicopters approaching.  As they drew closer, my jaw dropped as I could see they both bore the distinctive markings of Marine One -- the helicopter used by the President of the United States.  For security reasons, Marine One always flies with a decoy/back-up twin.  This sighting easily ranks with the Space Shuttle Endeavour and the B-2 stealth bomber as the most exciting aircraft I've spotted above Glendale.

*Update: I spoke too soon! When I originally wrote this post, I assumed that President Obama was actually in one of the helicopters, but after researching his schedule, he is at Camp David today.  From what I've gleaned so far, the helicopters are on a practice run for a future presidential visit.

*Update #2: Sunday's sighting of a pair of "Marine One" helicopters is explained: President Obama is going to be on The Tonight Show in Burbank on Wednesday 10/24; the helicopters were on a practice run.

 

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