The Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye, a carrier-capable airborne early warning aircraft, has made its way into Microsoft Flight Simulator with a new freeware add-on in an Early Alpha version. The new release by ANSMedia provides a functional 3D model for both the exterior and interior, though the cockpit remains in early stages with most switches currently inoperative. The aircraft features animated control surfaces, wing folding, tailhook deployment, and a rotating radar dome. Landing gear animations are present, though door and strut details are yet to be finalized.
The flight model is an approximation at this stage, and avionics include the Working Title G3X suite with PMS GTN750 integration. A functional autopilot system is available through the G3X interface. While the aircraft is flyable in both Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024, the developer emphasize that no specific optimizations for FS2024 will be made until the simulator’s development environment stabilizes. You should also note that this freeware release is positioned as a demo, with the possibility of a more advanced payware version in the future.
If you like this project, ANSMedia certainly welcomes donations to assist in its ongoing improvement. The aircraft is now available for download on Flightsim.to.