What kind of Plane is this?

I was down at the Santa Monica Pier today and was setting up for a shot of some harbor seals on a bouy about a quarter mile off shore when this big bird suddenly appeared over head. I remember seeing one of these in the movies but this is a first time to actually see it for myself.
The lens was a EF 70-200 L with a Kenko 2.x TC and hand held. I found that with the TC on I couldn't back off enough to get the whole plane in until later.

http://photography.dun​nnet.com …displayimage.ph​p?pos=-315

e-2 hawkeye

Weird to have them flyby the GG. Perhaps there was a carrier offshore?

Thanks guys. Do appreciate it.
BTW given the info given what are your thoughts on the photo overall?

It's not bad for what it is at all. Especially considering the panning and the tubes.

Hawkeyes are large planes. I happened to frame one once just at the right moment;

http://www.brendanstew​art.net/oceana2006/air​show28.jpg

You are lucky to be in an area with a bit of Naval aircraft. Especially fleet week. Look it up for 2007!

My son Jeff caught this one at an air show last year
http://www.pbase.com/m​arauder61/image/483508​88
Pretty good for a ten year old...

Marauder61, if you look closely, it's the same plane.....

Must be flying off the Mugu Point naval base. If that is exciting to you pay a visit. You won't be disappointed with various some times even most exotic rockets in their first ever fly.

I'm impressed. Your son did a fine job. I keep going back and forth between the two photo's and I believe they are the same plane. They have the same nose number (601).
Thanks for sharing it. That's one any young man could be proud of.

Actually it's not the same plane. The navy has a squadron numbering system on their aircraft, think 101, 202, 301, 404, etc... usually the squadron leader has the 101 plane, etc...

So they both have the same nose #, and same type of aircraft, but not the same exact plane. VAW-116 does operate out of Pt. Mugu, so that's most likely where it came from.

And if you really want to know the reasoning behind it, here is the history;

http://home.att.net/~j​baugher/navyserials.ht​ml

Particularly the 20th paragraph down.

Just goes to show ya what I know. I was an army man myself Thanks for the info. I'll have to check it out.

mumbles wrote in post #2492051
And if you really want to know the reasoning behind it, here is the history;

http://home.att.net/~j​baugher/navyserials.ht​ml

Particularly the 20th paragraph down.

Good info at this site.

Those who look closely will notice an additional difference between some of the E2C Hawkeye's in this post. Some have the six-bladded propeller, while others have a four-bladded propeller. This is because the original prop (the 4-blade version) is being replaced with the newer six-bladded prop. These props are fitted to the same Allison T-56 engines, but the newer (all composite) props are more fuel effecient, quieter and more reliable than the original ham-standard props. I'm not sure if/when the complete fleet will be done, but if you see any of the 4-bladded variants around, take a shot since they will become rare soon . . .