Obama in an Osprey?

Pentagon budget officials said this afternoon that the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor could be a candidate to replace the canceled VH-71 presidential helicopter.

Defense Department Comptroller Robert Hale and Vice Adm. Stephen Stanley, the director for force structure, resources and assessments on the Joint Staff, told reporters at a briefing on the FY-10 budget request that the department will seek an existing solution, if possible, to replace the aging Marine One helicopters that currently shuttle the president and other VIPs on short trips.

Stanley said the V-22 could be a viable platform, but noted that the requirements for the presidential helicopter must be reviewed prior to a competition for any new contract award.