POTUS IN SCOTLAND

BETWEEN JULY 25 and 29, US President Donald Trump, travelled to Scotland to open the new Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire, Chris Melaisi travelled throughout his home country to capture the action.

While the VC-25A and VH-3Ds took the headlines, a whole plethora of aircraft were required for the trip. Over 20 USAF C-17As alone were recorded arriving at RAF Lossiemouth and at both Aberdeen and Prestwick International Airports These Globemasters transported support equipment and the President’s motorcade, as well as three helicopters from Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) ‘Nighthawks’. This included a single VH-92 Patriot to Prestwick and a pair of VH-3D Sea Kings to Aberdeen. Other rotary assets were deployed from the US Army’s stronghold in Ansbach, Germany, in the form of five 214th Aviation Regiment CH-47F Chinooks to Aberdeen.

The Presidential airlift squadron’s Boeing VC-25A 92-9000 arrives into Prestwick Airport at sunset as ‘Air Force 1’.

Arriving shortly behind AF1 at Prestwick Airport was a ‘SAMFOX’ Boeing C-32A, 09-0017, arriving as ‘SAM46’ from Joint Base Andrews.

Boeing C-17A 10-0220 arrives at Aberdeen Airport as RCH4122, brining equipment in from Florida ahead of the president’s arrival in the local area.

A true rarity and a special sight on Scottish soil was the arrival of two USAF C-17A’s, with each one carrying an HMX-1 Sikorsky VH-3D Sea King. Here, 159356 can be seen appearing down the ramp of Charleston-marked 07-7184.

Heavy USAF fixed-wing assets came in the form of a VC-25A from the Presidential Air Group and a 1st Airlift Squadron C-32A, both components of the 89th Airlift Wing based at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. An E-4B from the 1st Airborne Command and Control Squadron, based at Offutt AFB in Nebraska, was also deployed to RAF Mildenhall. Arriving at Prestwick Airport on July 25, Trump travelled by road and remained at his Turnberry golf estate in Ayrshire. The deployed VH-92 was not used during its time in Scotland and acted as a reserve. President Trump then relocated north to RAF Lossiemouth, Morayshire, aboard the VC-25A. From here, a fleet of rotary assets (2 x VH-3Ds and 4 x CH-47Fs) provided transport to and from his new golf estate in the northeast. On the 29th, Trump departed back to the US aboard the VC-25A from RAF Lossiemouth.

214th CH-47F 15-08176 rolls down the runway after a practice flight as ‘NIGHTHAWK’

A line-up of five 214th Aviation Regiment Boeing/Vertol CH-47F Chinook can be seen at Aberdeen Airport, awaiting flying duties with 2 VH-3D Sea King later in the week.

‘NIGHTHAWK 1’ – A USMC HMX-1 Sikorsky VH-3D Sea King 159357 is seen on a test flight after being offloaded from Quantico, USA. Note, the aircraft does not yet carry the seal of the president of the Unites States under the cockpit.

‘NIGHTHAWK FLIGHT’ is seen rolling for departure. The flight consisted of 4 CH-47F and 2 VH-3D. Here, 13-08436 is seen sporting the ‘Stars and Stripes’ in the windshield. The Flight performed a practice run ahead of the POTUS arrival and routed Aberdeen - Lossiemouth - Menie House, Balmedie – Aberdeen.

VH-3D’s ‘MARINE ONE’ and ‘NIGHTHAWK 2’ arrive at Menie estate, transporting President Trump from RAF Lossiemouth to his new golf estate.

Sikorsky VH-3D 159357 of HMX-1 ‘Nighthawks’ arrives in evening light ahead of 4 CH-47F chinook’s. A stand out moment in Scottish Aviation history which will likely not be repeated.