Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>E-2C Hawkeye>HA4808

General Background

The Northrop E-2 Hawkeye is an all-weather airborne early warning aircraft (AEW). The E-2 was a twin-turboprop developed in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s for the USN. The E-2 is a carrier- capable aircraft and has received major upgrades in their electronics for the E-2B and E-2C with the E-2C also receiving improved turbo-prop engines. The E-2 has been in production since the 1960’s making it the longest production run of any carrier based aircraft. The E-2C variant became operational in 1973.

The Aircraft

AW-115 “Liberty Bells” was commissioned on April 20, 1967 and deployed aboard USS Ranger on November 4, 1967. In the mid 1970’s VAW-115 won 2 consecutive Battle E’s and the CNO Safety S award. In the early 1990s the squadron participated in Desert Shield and then Desert Storm. In August 1998 VAW-115 transferred to the USS Kitty Hawk and remained there until August 2008. In March 2003 the Liberty Bells began flying in Operation Iraqi Freedom in support of ground forces and logged 363 hours.

Specifications :

Number of E-2C delivered:	USN/180, USN Reserve for drug interdiction/6, others countries/30
Crew:	5 / 1 Pilot, 1 Co-Pilot, 1 Radar Officer (RO), 1 Combat Information Center Officer (CICO), 1 Aircraft Control Officer (ACO)
Dimensions
Length:	57 ft 8.75 in (17.60 m)
Wingspan:	80 ft 7 in (24.56 m)
Height:	18 ft 3.75 in (5.58 m)
Wing Area:	201.1 ft². (18.68 m²)
Performance
Engines:	2 x Allison / Rolls Royce T56-A-427 5,100 shp (3,800 kW) each
Maximum Speed:	350 knots (648 km/h)
Cruise:	256 knots (474 km/h
Ferry Range:	1,462 nmi (2,708 km)
Service Ceiling:	34,700 ft (10,576 m)
Endurance:	6 hrs
Weights
Empty:	40,200 lb (18,090 kg)
Loaded:	43,068 lb (19,536 kg)
Maximum Take-Off:	57,500 lb (26,083 kg)
Avionics:	AN/APS-145 Radar
	OL-483/AP IFF interrogator system
	APX-100 IFF Transponder
	OL-698/ASQ Tactical Computer Group
	AN/ARC-182 UHF/VHF radio
	AN/ARC-158 UHF radio
	AN/ARQ-34 HF radio
	AN/USC-42 Mini-DAMA SATCOM system