HOBBY MASTER 1/72 USAF UNITED STATES AIR FORCE NORTHROP GRUMMAN E-2C HAWKEYE 166503 (HA4817)

The Northrop E-2 Hawkeye is an all-weather airborne early warning aircraft (AEW). The E-2 was a twin-turboprop developed in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s for the USN. The E-2 is a carrier-capable aircraft and has received major upgrades in their electronics for the E-2B and E-2C with the E-2C also receiving improved turbo-prop engines. The E-2 has been in production since the 1960’s making it the longest production run of any carrier based aircraft. The E-2C variant became operational in 1973.

In 2010 VAW-120 “Greyhawks” received new E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes as well as C-2A Greyhounds to complement the existing models.. VAW-120 was an Airborne Command and Control Squadron used as a Fleet Replacement Squadron based at Naval Station Norfolk. One E-2C assigned to VAW-120 was 166503 -661 that departed Norfolk on August 31, 2020 for a training flight when something went horribly wrong and the crew were unable to react or correct the problem. The only action left was for the 4 crew to parachute to safety while the aircraft crashed on Wallop Island.