# @airandspacemuseum on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/Das4DTzn09O
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/67857153-airandspacemuseum-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/b30aed81a4.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-07-12T17:27:24.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** National Air and Space Museum (@airandspacemuseum) — https://gondola.cc/airandspacemuseum

## Caption

This helicopter made presidential history. 🚁 On this day in 1957, Dwight D. Eisenhower became the first president to fly in a helicopter while in office. That day, Air Force Maj. Joseph Barrett lifted off in this Bell H-13J (on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center) with Eisenhower sitting in the right rear and James Rowley, chief of the White House Secret Service detail, sitting to his left.

The flight was part of a simulated nuclear alert staged to test how quickly the Chief Executive and other government officials could depart Washington, DC, and reach a safe haven outside the city.

The H-13J (also called the Bell Ranger) was selected for this presidential first because it had an outstanding safety record and was the most reliable design available. It had an effective range of a mere 150 miles and was somewhat slow, with a top speed of around 100 miles per hours. #AirSpacePhoto

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 715
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 5

## Tags

airspacephoto

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