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E-1b?

E

ElCidAv8tor05

Any of you boys seen a VORTAC around here?
pilot
I was at the Blues' Homecoming Air Show today and there was a plane on display called an E-1B. My question is: what the hell is an E-1B? what were its missions, etc? It kinda looked like a retarded E-2C with a fat non-rotating radome on top. Thanks for your help.




-" Easy"
 
Grumman E-1b Tracer aka "Willie Fudd" or "Stoof with a Roof"

http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Aerospace/Grumman-II/Aero39G3.htm said:
To provide the Navy with an airborne early-warning aircraft capable of operating from aircraft carriers, Grumman began development of a variant of the S-2A Tracker in 1954. This was designated as the WF-2, based on the C-1A and subsequently redesignated E-1B, more often being known as "Willy Fudd" to its pilots and crewmen.
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Predecessor of the E-2 Hawkeye, same mission.
E-1B:
Grumman_E_1B_Tracer.sized.jpg


S-2A Tracker (predecessor of S-3 Viking):
jas3873.jpg


S-2A was also the basis for the C-1A Trader, the first COD (Carrier Onboard Delivery) which was the predecessor of the current C-2 Greyhound. Note the different rear part of the engine nacelles and lack of a mad boom below the rudder compared to the S-2A.
BICEN22_Grumman_C-1A_Trader_USNavy_PeterMancus.jpg


Dang it, I love Google.:D
 
The Forest Service out here in Cali uses a bunch of S-2's for putting out fires. They also have a few PBY Catalinas. It must be one helluva job to fly those things into a forest fire.
 
I'd sure love to see the innards of one of those, and what it was capable of. I bet keeping the sensors working was a hell of a lot harder in the Tracer than it is in the Hawkeye.

Dammit I'm turning into a dork...
 
scotty008 said:
I think it was A-4's wife that used "cute" to describe it. He was somewhat apalled, if I recall correctly...
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Well, I mean...come on, the damn thing looks like it's either a child's drawing of an airplane or a toy. Either way, it's stubby and silly.:)
 
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