E-1 Tracer Information & E-1 Tracer Links at HealthHaven.com

E-1 Tracer
	E-1B Tracer
Role	Carrier AEW
Manufacturer	Grumman
First flight	17 December 1956
Introduced	1958
Retired	1977
Status	Retired
Primary user	United States Navy
Number built	88
Developed from	C-1 Trader

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 C-1 Trader and first entered service in 1958. It was replaced by the more modern E-2 Hawkeye in the early 1970s.

[edit] Design and development

The E-1 was designated WF under the old US Navy system; the designation earned it the nickname "Willy Fudd". Since the S-2 Tracker was known as S2F under the old system, that airplane was nicknamed "Stoof"; the WF/E-1 with its distinctive radome gained the nickname "Stoof with a Roof."^[1]

[edit] Radar

The Tracer was fitted with the Hazeltine AN/APS-82 in its radome. The radar featured an Airborne Moving Target Indicator (AMTI), which analyzes the Doppler shift in reflected radar energy to distinguish a flying aircraft against the clutter produced by wave action at the ocean's surface. Separating a moving object from stationary background is accomplished by suitable hardware.

[edit] Variants

The XTF-1W prototype.

WF-2 of VAW-11 on the catapult of the USS Hancock in 1962.

XTF-1W/XWF-1: aerodynamic prototype (BuNo 136792) without electronics, later rebuilt as a standard C-1A, retaining the twin tail.
WF-2: Airborne Early Warning version of the TF-1 Trader, redesignated E-1B in 1962, 88 built.
E-1B: WF-2 redesignated in 1962.

[edit] Operators

United States

United States Navy

[edit] Specifications

E-1B of VAW-121 Det. 42 on the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1970

VAW-111 Tracer on the USS Bon Homme Richard

This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.

General characteristics

Crew: 4, two pilots, two RADAR/Intercept Controllers
Length: 42.25 ft (12.9 m)
Wingspan: 69.6 ft (21.2 m)
Height: 16.3 ft (4.9 m)
Wing area: 499 sq ft (46,35 qm)
Empty weight: 18,750 lb (8,504 kg)
Loaded weight: 26,600 lb (12,065 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 29,150 lb (13,222 kg)
Powerplant: 2× Wright R-1820-82WA Cyclone 9-cylinder radial piston engine, 1,525 hp (1,137 kW) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 287 mph (462 km/h)
Range: 1,300 miles (2,092 km)
Service ceiling: 15,800 ft (4,800 m)
Rate of climb: 1,120 ft/min (340 m/min)

Armament

none

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

^ O'Rourke, G.G., CAPT USN. "Of Hosenoses, Stoofs, and Lefthanded Spads". United States Naval Institute Proceedings, July 1968.

[edit] Bibliography

Winchester, Jim (ed.). "Grumman S-2E/F/G/UP Tracker." Modern Military Aircraft (Aviation Factfile). Rochester, Kent, UK: Grange Books plc, 2004. ISBN 1-84013-640-5.

[edit] Aircraft on Display

There is an E-1B Tracer on the flight deck of the USS Yorktown (CV-10) at Patriot's Point Naval and Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant, SC.

[edit] See also

Related development

Comparable aircraft

[edit] External links

[Proceedings-0] O'Rourke, G.G., CAPT USN. "Of Hosenoses, Stoofs, and Lefthanded Spads". United States Naval Institute Proceedings, July 1968.

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