The E-2 Hawkeye, the world's first aircraft designed specifically for carrier-based airborne early warning and control, revolutionized naval aviation when it first flew on October 21, 1960. This twin-turboprop, high-wing monoplane features a distinctive 24-foot rotating radome and can accommodate a crew of five tactical coordinators. Measuring over 57 feet in length with a 80-foot wingspan, the aircraft achieves a maximum speed of 375 mph and operational range of 1,605 miles. Originally manufactured by Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, now Northrop Grumman, it holds the record as the longest continuously produced carrier-based aircraft in history.
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