De Havilland Canada E-9A Widget

De Havilland Canada · USA · first flew 1983 · reconnaissance aircraft

The E-9A Widget is a US Air Force range-surveillance aircraft based on the de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Series 100, fitted with a ventral sea-search radar to monitor Air Force flight test and missile ranges.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	2 × turbofan, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	22.3 m fuselage
T — Tail	T-tail

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Spot it by:

Military DHC-8 / Dash 8 variant with large ventral radar pod
High-wing twin turbofan commuter airframe in grey Air Force markings
Distinctive underbelly AN/APS-128 sea-search radar fairing

Identical to a standard DHC-8-100 from above, but the large teardrop-shaped ventral radar fairing under the forward fuselage is unmistakable from any other angle. High wing, twin wing-mounted turbofans, and T-tail confirm the DHC-8 lineage.

Specifications

The De Havilland Canada E-9A Widget has a length of 22.3 m (73 ft).
It has a wingspan of 25.9 m (85 ft).
Its maximum speed is 500 km/h (311 mph).
Typical crew: 2 flight + 2 mission.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

The USAF acquired two DHC-8-100 airframes in the mid-1980s and converted them at Eglin AFB for range safety and tracking duties in support of Gulf Range operations. The aircraft carries an AN/APS-128 surface-search radar in a large belly radome and data-link equipment. Both aircraft are operated by the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron at Tyndall AFB.

Variants

E-9A (sole variant, two aircraft); the base aircraft is the DHC-8 Series 100 marketed as the Dash 8.

Where you'll see it

USAF Air Combat Command, 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron, Tyndall AFB. Primary mission is range surveillance for Gulf Test and Training Range.

Related aircraft

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