It's hard to believe that it first flew over 32 years ago! At any rate, seeing it in its upgraded E-3B form made me wonder about weight gain over the years. Does anybody here know how much the ESM equipment, additional consoles, IR jammers, etc. have added to the empty weight? Has some of the additional equipment been offset by (lighter) computer upgrades?
-Mark
"That's so stupid! If they're so secret, why are they out where everyone can see them?" - my kid
Cheshire From Australia, joined Aug 2001, 112 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (8 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 1776 times:
That's a good question. The baseline E-3B, has the APY-2 radar, CC-2 computer, ECM voice resistant voice communications, 14 situation display consoles, Have Quick secure comms and self defence AAMs. The E-3C has 19 consoles and the 'Have Quick A-Nets' comms. Anyway, the weights for the E-3B are as follows: empty 77 996 kgs (171 959lbs ) , MTOW 147 418 kgs
(325 000 lbs). It doesn't answer your question, but gives you some idea how the 'average' Sentry tips the scales. And as for the AAM capability- I'm betting the only aircraft the E-3 could down with a 'winder would be an An-225. Still, it would be an extremely gracefull furball to watch.......
Galaxy5 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 2034 posts, RR: 27 Reply 2, posted (8 years 10 months 2 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 1764 times:
LOL that really puts things in perspective. "MTOW 147 418 kgs
(325 000 lbs)". thats less than our fuel capacity of 332,500lbs.
"damn, I didnt know prince could Ball like that" - Charlie Murphy
Bungle From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2006, 0 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (8 years 10 months 2 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 1695 times:
I work on the RAF E3D awacs and we have recently had to install ballast weights in a redundant compartment in the front of the aircraft to counteract the change in aircraft centre of gravity from the change of systems and equipment the aircraft have experienced and may experience in the future.
Galaxy5 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 2034 posts, RR: 27 Reply 5, posted (8 years 10 months 2 weeks 5 days ago) and read 1679 times:
Duce50boom
From United States, joined May 2004, 159 posts, RR: 6
Reply: 3
Posted Fri Aug 6 2004 20:33:48 UTC+1 and read 18 times:
And 332,500 pounds is less fuel than the 10's 340,000 pounds......
Yet, who can fly further on that gas?
Well with 330,000lbs we can usually fly direct from Kuwait to Travis.
"damn, I didnt know prince could Ball like that" - Charlie Murphy
Galaxy5 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 2034 posts, RR: 27 Reply 7, posted (8 years 10 months 2 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 1630 times:
First hour, about 28-30k there after 21-23k
"damn, I didnt know prince could Ball like that" - Charlie Murphy
Lt-AWACS From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (8 years 9 months 3 weeks 3 days ago) and read 1550 times:
how did I miss this topic anyway...
Chesire- the E-3B does not have the AN/APY-2 it still has the AN/APY-1
We have ten C models with the -2. The Maritime cape that comes with the AN/APY-2 ads very little extra weight. Both US B and C models have 14 scopes, no AWACS have 19 consoles for control.
There is no major weight changes from the A to B/C models even with the PDS changes, because RSIP has reduced cabinets and weight inside the aircraft so the change is nill.
The biggest increase in weight is when we add the 4 J-Compartment seats, with 4 more pax and/or gear.
Computer and radar weight has not changed fromthe A to B/C models. Our MGW can be over 340K .
The Brit E-3D with 9 consoles is getting the 5 extra consoles which will ad extra weight. Now the E-3D (which I have flown on) with the newer CFM-56s can take off with higher weights than the US E-3B/C
Ciao, and Hook 'em Horns,
Capt-AWACS, Remember the Alamo
Lt-AWACS From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (8 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 1544 times:
Chesire is incorrect that there are aams but...
As for hardpoints, the original does have 1 hard point under each wing, but it has never been used other than for testing on the Boeing bird in Seattle.
Ciao, and Hook 'em Horns,
Capt-AWACS, Yankee Air Pirate
SATL382G From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (8 years 9 months 3 weeks 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 1535 times:
Lt-AWACS,
Thanks for the confirmation... The rest of his post seemed pretty knowledgeable. Seems everytime I see a E3 it's got new "warts & bumps" and I don't ask what for... but a launch rail... whew, that would have got my attention...
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