E-2 Hawkeye: The Hummer You Don’t Mess With

The Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye is the Navy's all-weather, carrier-based tactical battle management airborne early warning, command and control aircraft. The E-2 is a twin engine, five crewmember, high-wing turboprop aircraft with a 24-foot diameter radar rotodome attached to the upper fuselage. Designed in the 1950s, the E-2 first flew in 1960 before entering service in 1964. The E-2 has been in production, in one variant or another, continuously since 1960 – giving the E-2 the longest production run of any carrier-based aircraft ever.

The E-2, which uses twin turbo-prop engines, also has earned the nickname “Hummer”, due to the distinct humming sound the prop engines make – which is easily discernible from the roar of a carrier’s jet engine fleet.

In addition, the sequel of new movie “Top Gun: Maverick”, featuring E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, even for a brief moment, makes a strong impression.

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[RayBecker]

I was an OS on the carrier Independence CV-62. Always loved the E-2 C We had quite the capabilities with our ship board equipment, the E-2, the helo's with Sono Buoys and the P-3 Orion. Our job was to track and identify anything in the air, on the surface or sub-surface. The EA-6 Prowler was one of my favorites. The Cod. Our Task Force was a totally self-sufficient force which could project Naval Power for hundreds of miles in any direction. Mind you, I don't believe in Empire building. I believe that Defense is exactly what we should be doing. My Navy was responsible for keeping sea lanes open and free from any attack. The guys who operated our E-2's were top of the food chain. All very capable and professional. I can't answer for today's Navy but in the 1980's we were as formidable as a Navy could ever be.

[calvinclay]

My dad worked at the wing of the Hawkeye for most of his Naval career, we still have many friends in the Navy working in this. One of them being a man with the Call sign “Princess” who’s I believe commander of one of the Hawkeye training squadrons. This plane is such a big part of my family and life in some ways and it’s nice to see these videos because I truly believe that it’s an underrated military aircraft in terms of public knowledge and recognition. Easily has been and definitely still is one of the most crucial aircraft to all of the Navy’s operations.

[ghostmofo]

I worked as an electrician on the F14 for 7 years. At night as soon as I came out of the ship and headed towards the flight deck and heard a Hawkeye running I would stop immediately and let my eyes adjust and find out exactly where the thing was. One of my biggest fears on that deck was walking into that big propped bird.

[abominablesnowman]

I was a plane captain and " jet mech" on this bird from 76 - 80. Assigned to VAW-124 out of NAS Norfolk and served aboard CV-66 USS America.

[brucelaughton]

I flew one of the last deployments of the E-1B A/C aboard Ranger deploying to Vietnam 1972-73. Transitioned to the E-2B 1972.

[Roset]

I've been working as a mech on Hawkeyes for the last four years, VAW-120 and VAW-113, thanks for shedding some light on these glorious aircraft!

[robertjessen]

We have a B model at The Air Victory Museum in NJ. I couldn't believe how tight and cramped it was. The 3 operators stations in the aft section and the narrow aisle between the banks of electronics. The plane is so old up on the cockpit under each side window both the pilot and co-pilot have cigarette ash trays. 🇺🇸

[OldSeaDoggy]

From 1976 to 1979 I was a intermediate level (I-Level) maintenance tech for the early warning radar system. I was later trained as an I-Level CAT-IIID tech and instructor. CAT-IIID was used for test and repair of various Grumman aircraft including the E-2 Hawkeye.

[pablopeter]

This is a clear example how a good airplane as long as it is being updated will remain for a long time: B-52, F-16, F-15, etc...

[tntboyetnt]

mad dad was a mission Commander in the back of the Hawkeye

[joevanseeters]

That's amazing that the E-2 Hawkeye was designed just after the Korean war and it is still in active use today! That's unbelievable. The B-52 is the same way. Designed in the 1950's and still in active use with no plans to replace them. They said that the B-52 and also the Chinook Helicopter are two aircraft that could quite possibly be the first two aircraft to be used by a military force for over 100 years. With continuous upgrades of course, but both of those aircraft have just been updated to fully glass cockpits and modern avionics and who knows what else, but they are both expected to continue in service past the 2050's making them both century aircraft which is absolutely amazing! It just shows how good America really was during WWII and after when just about everything we had here was manufactured here and not in foreign countries like today. Everything America made was top quality products. That stuff LASTED. People are still using things here that were made back then and the stuff still works great and exactly as intended in 1945. Aircraft innovation was at a place in history it had never been. The introduction of the Jet engine really propelled the Aviation world light years ahead of where it had been just a few years before. Unbelievable innovation occurred during the 1950's and 1960"s. Jet's, Space Flights, SR-71, U-2 Spy plane, and an entire host of other innovations during that time period in history. Aviation innovation was going so fast it was unreal. We still continue to innovate. We have the most advanced fighter and bomber aircraft ever designed, although yes, other nations more recently have or are attempting to get similar technology such as Stealth and many other new technologies designed to outwit their enemy. This is the age of Electronic warfare. There is probably more soldiers around the world sitting behind a computer terminal trying to hack into the rest of the world and take a little listen listen than there is on any battlefield.

[billrivenbark]

Was an AMH in VAW-117. We had the B model. Based at Miramar and deployed on the Ranger for two cruises.

[orlandoayala]

i HAVE HEARD F-14 Pilots say, fly escort and protect the Hummer or EA-6B, OK but they protect us more than we protect them LOL

[VintageWanderer]

My mom used to call them Mary Poppins when we lived in VA beach as we lived near the flight approach to Oceana Navy flight base and would see them fly over.

[CentralStateMower]

The E-2's Turboprop engines sound like angry Bumblebees!

[krippri]

Occasionally we get an E2 Hawkeye doing a few touch and goes at the State College, Pa airport. As soon as you notice him, he's gone.

[salty_flightdeck_cpo]

The best Hummers I ever had were in Bangkok and Olongapo.

[williamdodge]

USS FORRESTAL CV-59
82 work ups to med/io.
Home town ADCS over arresting gears hooked me up on an E2C night flight.
Awsome technology/abilities...Semper Fortis
Repair Division Pipeshop
HT2.

[johnslaughter]

We had the E-1 on my first cruise 1968-'69 and the E-2 on my second cruise 1969-'70. I arrived on the ship in a C-2 Greyhound, which is the same airframe as the E-2. I also flew off the ship in the C-1, the same airframe as the E-1 and S-2. I doubt the C-1s are still around, but there are still some C-2s flying as CODs. Norah O'Donnell flew out to Nimitz on a C-2. I'm not sure, but I think the B-52 and C-130 are the only planes older than the C-2/E-2 and are still active. Great grandchildren could be flying the same aircraft that their great grandfathers flew. How's that for getting your money's worth?

[EricPham-grpg]

If during sensitive mission we may invert the active scan so passively low intensity sucking in signal around so analyze but if not careful the inverter is the key killed it during active or enemy can use during all active radar like mirror of high power operation