Grumman E-2 Hawkeye Ideas and Inspiration

[GTX_Admin]

Folks,

A place for your E-2 Hawkeye Ideas and inspiration.

[GTX_Admin]

To begin with, what about a jet conversion akin to the Greyhound 21 proposal:

[Logan Hartke]

I just thought I'd mention that I see these things all the time since the NG assembly line for them is right down the road from me in St Augustine, FL.  It's right by the road, too, with the hangars facing the road, so it's not unusual to drive southbound on 17 and see a couple of F-5Ns at the front of the hangar near the doors and a handful of Hawkeyes behind them.  They still look weird flying around, though.

Cheers,

Logan

[elmayerle]

how about replacing the rotodome with a phased-array radar like Ericsson's?  I understand NGC looked at E-2 airframes with cargo pods replacing the rotodome as an alternative to re-instating C-2 production.

[The Big Gimper]

You have until December 31, 2019 to put a refueling probe on you E-2 and call it a WHIF. After this date it is a real world build. Sorry.   



The first E-2D Hawkeye equipped with aerial refueling (A/R) completed its first flight Dec. 15. This new capability allows E-2 missions of more than eight hours, giving battle commanders more access to views of the battlefield. The first squadron of A/R-equipped E-2Ds is planned for 2020.

[M.A.D]

That aerial refuelling probe looks so sadly slapped together!
Isn't ironic that such a force-multiplier like the Hawkeye never had aerial-refuelling from its cconception? After all carrier-based AEW wasn't new to the USN.

M.A.D

[elmayerle]

I think it's more a matter of where you could install and properly plumb it.  As tightly packed as the E-2 is, I can see that any additional installation is going to look at least somewhat scabbed on.  Considering how far back the basic design was originated, I can see why in-flight refueling was not considered at the time, the USN had a whole lot more carrier decks then than they do now.

[upnorth]

You have until December 31, 2019 to put a refueling probe on you E-2 and call it a WHIF. After this date it is a real world build. Sorry.   



The first E-2D Hawkeye equipped with aerial refueling (A/R) completed its first flight Dec. 15. This new capability allows E-2 missions of more than eight hours, giving battle commanders more access to views of the battlefield. The first squadron of A/R-equipped E-2Ds is planned for 2020.

I thought IFR for the Hawkeye had been real world since Israel took the type:


net photo


net photo

[Volkodav]

You have until December 31, 2019 to put a refueling probe on you E-2 and call it a WHIF. After this date it is a real world build. Sorry.   



The first E-2D Hawkeye equipped with aerial refueling (A/R) completed its first flight Dec. 15. This new capability allows E-2 missions of more than eight hours, giving battle commanders more access to views of the battlefield. The first squadron of A/R-equipped E-2Ds is planned for 2020.

E-2E Unicorn?

[The Big Gimper]

Thanks Upnorth. I did not know that the IAF had built their own Unicorn.

[GTX_Admin]

I have previously had RAN E-2s and SE-2s (the latter being a dedicated ASW version of the E-2 without the Roto-dome but with retractable mad boom and sonobuoy tubes):






These were also paired with a RAN KC-2 tanker/transport:




Also have had RCN variant:



these and more can be found here

[Jeffry Fontaine]

The only variation missing is the C-2 Greyhound with the Hawkeye radar mounted on top.  I would think that this configuration would provide a small addition of much appreciated space for the guys in back operating the radar scopes

[Jeffry Fontaine]

The ASW E-2 looks like a great idea.  Might actually work in 1:72nd or 1:144th scale but you are going to have a real fun time with PSR on the 1:48th scale kit

[The Big Gimper]

Longest E-2 Hawkeye Flight on record!

On March 16, VX-1 conducted a long endurance flight with the new Aerial Refueling capability on the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye. Plugging on a KC-707 Omega tanker, the E-2D Hawkeye stayed airborne for more than 8 hours and executed missions in support of Operational Test objectives. This marks the longest continuous flight ever recorded by an E-2 Hawkeye and is the beginning of a new era of sustained Airborne Early Warning for the Carrier Strike Group.

[upnorth]

I do wonder how a Hawkeye would look with the rotodome replace with a phased array set up.

[GTX_Admin]

I do wonder how a Hawkeye would look with the rotodome replace with a phased array set up.

Well, technically, the E-2D already has that though I am thinking you are talking about something similar to a E-7A or the like radar mount.

[upnorth]

I do wonder how a Hawkeye would look with the rotodome replace with a phased array set up.

Well, technically, the E-2D already has that though I am thinking you are talking about something similar to a E-7A or the like radar mount.

Kind of, though more like the Saab Argus or Embraer R-99 with the long Erieye radar.

[Burncycle]

The greyhound 21 almost reminds me of what a V-22 could look like with conventional wings and jets, almost pleasing!

I had this on a different post, but since it's a Greyhound themed thread I thought I'd add it here.  It's a Greyhound with an airborne tactical high energy laser that was played with in the CRAM role at one time.   In this case, it clubs incoming supersonic sea skimming anti ship missiles like baby seals.

[GTX_Admin]

Hmmm...one could possibly do that in 1/48 by using the forthcoming AiM 1/72 conversion:

[kitnut617]

Erm! that YAL-1 conversion has been "up-and-coming" for the last twelve years ----     

I've got the 747 already, just waiting for the conversion. I might even just try it myself, doesn't look to hard --- right --- 

[tankmodeler]

Erm! that YAL-1 conversion has been "up-and-coming" for the last twelve years ----     

The YAL-1 laser mount may be larger than the entire E-2 fuselage diameter. And you'd need to extend the nose at least a bit to manage the turret mechanisms and plumbing for the laser.

[kitnut617]

Erm! that YAL-1 conversion has been "up-and-coming" for the last twelve years ----     

The YAL-1 laser mount may be larger than the entire E-2 fuselage diameter. And you'd need to extend the nose at least a bit to manage the turret mechanisms and plumbing for the laser.

Erm! read GTX's post just above mine

[jcf]

Use a PB4Y-2 nose turret as a starting point for a laser turret:

[GTX_Admin]

That's a good suggestion too

[tankmodeler]

Erm! that YAL-1 conversion has been "up-and-coming" for the last twelve years ----     

The YAL-1 laser mount may be larger than the entire E-2 fuselage diameter. And you'd need to extend the nose at least a bit to manage the turret mechanisms and plumbing for the laser.

Erm! read GTX's post just above mine

No, I saw the scale-o-rama possibility, but was just speaking to the idea of using the YAL-1 as is, i.e. in the same scale on a Greyhound. And even with the scale difference and, therefore, lower power, there would need to be a nose extension to manage the mechanicals of the turret and laser.

Just like the nose on the Liberator/Privateer.