E-1 Tracer

infobox Aircraft
name = E-1 Tracer
type = Carrier AEW
manufacturer =Grumman

---

caption = E-1B Tracer
designer =
first flight = 17 December avyear|1956
introduced = avyear|1958
retired = avyear|1977
number built = 88
status = Retired
unit cost =
primary user = United States Navy
more users =
developed from = C-1 Trader
variants with their own articles =

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.

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

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.

Variants

;XWF-1:Design study for an Airborne Early Warning version of the S2F-1 Tracker, not built.;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.

Operators

;USA
* United States Navy

pecifications

aircraft specification

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
crew= 4, two pilots, two RADAR/Intercept Controllers
length main=42.25 ft
length alt=12.9 m
span main=69.6 ft
span alt=21.2 m
height main=16.3 ft
height alt=4.9 m
area main=499 sq ft
area alt=46,35 qm
empty weight main=18,750 lb
empty weight alt=8,504 kg
loaded weight main=26,600 lb
loaded weight alt=12,065 kg
max takeoff weight main=29,150 lb
max takeoff weight alt=13,222 kg
engine (prop)=Wright R-1820-82WA Cyclone
type of prop=9-cylinder radial piston engine
number of props=2
power main=1,525 hp
power alt= 1,137 kW
max speed main=287 mph
max speed alt=462 km/h
range main=1,300 miles
range alt=2,092 km
ceiling main=15,800 ft
ceiling alt=4,800 m
climb rate main=1,120 ft/min
climb rate alt=340 m/min
loading main=
loading alt=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
armament=none

References

Notes

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.

ee also

aircontent
related=
* S-2 Tracker
* C-1 Trader
similar aircraft=
* E-2 Hawkeye
lists=
see also=

External links

* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/e-1.htm Global Security.org page on WF-2/E-1 Tracer]
* [http://www.mc.com/industries/aero/radar/amti.cfm Airborne Moving Target Indicator (AMTI) explanation provided by Mercury Computer]