https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_E-1_Tracer
The E-1 Tracer was the first purpose built airborne early warning aircraft used
by the United States Navy. It was a derivative of the Grumman C-1 Trader and
first entered service in 1958. It was replaced by the more modern E-2 Hawkeye in
the early 1970s.
The E-1 was designated WF under the 1922 United States Navy aircraft designation
system; the designation earned it the nickname "Willy Fudd". Since the S-2
Tracker carrier-based antisubmarine aircraft from which the Tracer was derived
known as S2F under the old system, that aircraft was nicknamed "Stoof"; the
WF/E-1 with its distinctive radome gained the nickname "Stoof with a Roof." The
E-1 featured folding wings for compact storage aboard aircraft carriers. Unlike
the S-2 and C-1 in which the wings folded upwards, the radome atop the fuselage
necessitated the E-1 to fold its wings along the sides of the fuselage.
Role
Carrier AEW
Manufacturer
Grumman
First flight
17 December 1956
Introduction
1958
Retired
1977
Status
Retired
Primary user
United States Navy
Number built
88
Developed from
Grumman C-1 Trader
The Tracer was fitted with the Hazeltine AN/APS-82 in its radome and fuselage.
The radar featured an Airborne Moving Target Indicator (AMTI), which compares
the video of one pulse time to the next in reflected radar energy to distinguish
a flying aircraft from the clutter produced by wave action at the ocean's
surface. The energy reflected from an aircraft changes position rapidly compared
to the energy reflected from the surrounding sea. Separating a moving object
from stationary background is accomplished by suitable hardware.
As one of the first carrier based early warning aircraft, the E-1 Tracer served
from 1958 to 1977, although considered only an interim type, being replaced by
the Grumman E-2 Hawkeye in the mid-1960s. During the early years of the Vietnam
War, E-1s saw extensive service, providing combat air patrol (CAP) fighters with
target vectors, and controlling Alpha strikes over North Vietnam. With a radius
enemy MiG's activity.
By May 1973, most E-1Bs were retired, with only four VAW-121 Tracers based at
NAS Norfolk, Virginia, still in service. These aircraft were soon retired during
mid-summer 1977 following a final cruise on board the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt
(CV-42) and were ferried to the Davis-Monthan storage facility. The E-1B Tracer
was struck from the inventory by 1977.
Specifications
General characteristics
Crew: 4, two pilots, two RADAR/Intercept Controllers
Length: 45 ft 4 in (13.82 m)
Wingspan: 72 ft 4 in (22.05 m)
Height: 16 ft 10 in (5.13 m)
Empty weight: 20,638 lb (9,381 kg)
Loaded weight: 24,800 lb (11,273 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 26,600 lb (12,091 kg)
hp (1,137 kW) (take-off power) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 207 knots (238 mph, 383 km/h) at 4,000 ft (1,220 ft)
Cruise speed: 142 knots (163 mph, 263 km/h)
Range: 900 nmi (1,035 mi, 1,666 km)
Endurance: 6.83 hrs (4.63 hrs on station at 150 nmi (278 km) at 5,000 ft (1,500
m)
Service ceiling: 15,800 ft (4,800 m)
Rate of climb: 1,120 ft/min (5.7 m/s) at sea level
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