The Helicopter Landing Pad
Eisenhower National Historic Park
The smoothest ride I ever had in my life. Eisenhower referring to
his first helicopter ride
President Eisenhower was the first president to travel by helicopter. His first ride was in 1957 during Operation Alert, a Cold War exercise to evacuate the president and his cabinet officers to safety in the Virginia mountains in case of nuclear attack. The helicopter soon proved to be very convenient, as well.
A drive from the White House to Gettysburg took about two hours. On a helicopter, he could travel to Gettysburg in about 35 minutes. Camp David, another presidential retreat, was a 10-minute flight to the south.
Marker is on Eisenhower Drive, on the right when traveling south.
Courtesy hmdb.org
