A bird's eye view of DC

The following pictures were taken on a unique experience I just had. A couple of my officers hooked me up with a flight around DC. Some were taken a while ago. A few of the photos were taken last night when I was able to hop on a training flight. My OIC just qualified to be a Marine One command pilot, and he was doing practice landings on the South Lawn. We also had a film crew from the National Geographic Channel on board. There is a documentary being made about HMX-1 which will air in January on the National Geographic Channel during inauguration week. No, I won't be on TV, but when you see the footage on the south lawn you can know that I am right behind the camera man!

A wide angle looking West toward the Washington Monument

Washington Monument at Dusk. You can see the white house in the background.

Another Washington Monument shot.

Another Washington Monument shot. As you can see we were flying so low we had to look up at the top of it.

This is a night shot from sitting on the South Lawn of the White House looking out.

Same shot during the day

Another day shot. That is the nose of the helicopter to the right.

East side of the capital

West side of the capital

We landed on the South Lawn. This is a night shot from the spot where the President gets on and off when we lift him from the White House.

RFK Stadium

South Lawn shot during the day.

The new Nationals stadium

The National Mall

Another shot of the mall

This was a shot out the window of a CH46E looking back on the city as we flew back south.

A shot of the Lincoln Memorial at 200 feet

Lincoln Memorial and reflecting pool at dusk

And another

Hanging out on the South Lawn

The flag above the White House

On final approach to the South Lawn

DC skyline looking east

Another shot looking east

Taken out the back ramp of the 46 as we left

More skyline

Looking out stairs of Marine One one the south lawn

Arlington National Cemetery

The new Air Force Memorial next to the Pentagon