Dancing With The Hawkeye

E-2C Hawkeye

"To the right, the right, the right, the right, the right
The left, the left, the left, the left, the left
Now kick, now kick, now kick, now kick
Now walk it by yourself, now walk it by yourself"

It sure looks to me like I captured this service member doing the 'Cupid Shuffle' with the E-2C Hawkeye. Personally, I was doing a Happy Dance.  Finally I was getting a close up look at the plane that was such a big part of my oldest son's life for nine years. The Hawkeye may be a lousy dance partner but as planes go it is top of the line. Yet, it is probably the most underappreciated aircraft in the military.

The Hawkeye may be the ugly duckling of the flock but he is the guardian angel of not only all those pretty ducks in the air but to the flock in the water as well. 

With his odd looking disk tail this duck knows and sees all no matter what the weather is like. His computerized radar and electronic surveillance sensors allow him to identify other flocks in the air or on the ground as either friend or foe. With his unique skills he provides critical support not only to all the popular ducks, but to the entire Carrier Strike Group and Joint Force Commander to which he is assigned. He provides both 'offensive and defensive counter air control, close-air support coordination, time critical strike coordination, search and rescue airborne coordination' among other important functions. 
  

All this he does with a smile. 
Of all the planes my son could have been responsible for, I am glad this was the one. Although, my son calls it a tin can or something like that, he does it with a sense of pride and affection.

Who cares if this so called ugly duckling is a poor dancer, 

I would willingly dance with him any day! 

How about you?