In the photo you shared, the cabin lights are on (green glow), someone is visible in the cockpit, and the aircraft looks powered up. That matches the usual procedure: engines or APU running at idle, rotors locked. The same setup was described for Trump’s January 2017 Andrews boarding that this image comes from.Yes, the engines (or APU) were very likely running, even though the rotors were stopped.On the VH-3D Sea King used as Marine One, this is standard. The two T58 turboshaft engines can sit at ground idle (or the APU can run) with the rotor brake engaged so the blades stay still. This powers the aircraft’s electrical systems, hydraulics, lights, air conditioning, and avionics while people board.pprune.orgThat’s why videos of presidential boardings often have a loud turbine whine even when the rotors aren’t moving. People have noted this for both Trump and Biden departures—the helicopter sounds “on” while the blades remain stationary until after the president is seated and the door is closed. Then the rotors are engaged and spun up for https://t.co/5T6LFRTNzt