057 - C-2 Greyhound

Everyone loves the sleek fighter jets, hovering attack planes, and other glamorous war machines that make the headlines and capture our attention, but few give more than a fleeting thought to the many other aircraft that perform crucial, yet unremarkable missions. One of those missions is logistical support, and only one airplane in history has been designed from the beginning to perform that mission to and from aircraft carriers.
On this episode, retired US Navy Lieutenant Commander Julio “JLO” Galvan joins us to discuss the Grumman C-2 Greyhound and the crucial carrier onboard delivery role it plays for carrier strike groups around the globe. Although not as flashy as a frontline fighter, the Greyhound performs a vital role in moving personnel, equipment, supplies, and even mail from ship to shore and vice versa. It can even be used to deploy parachuting SEALs, as depicted in this KZbin video:
• Video
During the listener question segment, Jell-O and Sunshine again discuss collateral duties in a Navy single-seat F/A-18 squadron, what constitutes a flight hour, whether the flight training pipeline does a good job of weeding out unfit student aviators, and if the “right stuff” actually exists.
New “cargo” bumper song by Jaime Lopez. Bumper announcements by Clint Bell. Artwork by Mark Myers.

[@TitusFFM]

So far this was the second best Episode for me. Right after the Intruder one. And man the moment he started to talk about this accident and the people who didn't make it I started to tear up. This is something you don't hear often. Kudos to the man. Best wishes.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thanks very much. Many of us are, in fact, big softies on that kind of stuff.

[@TitusFFM]

@@FighterPilotPodcast I wouldn't call it softie. Losing someone is always a big deal. Talking freely about it and showing real feelings especially by military professionals needs courage. Everyone try to be tough but it takes a lot to show the emotional site of it. I believe that this is also big thing why so many veterans suffer from ptsd or what ever name it has. Simply put because in military service we can't show emotions. And because of that type of behavior people have the tendency to suffer not from physical wounds but from inside. Where the soul and mind get ripped apart. I'm not a pilot I never went to war but my belive is that even if pilots drop bombs and know that they just pulverized some enemy's they still still think about it. It is something you don't read or listen often about. This is the military you don't win war's with cupcakes and rainbow's. And one's again thank you for your time and effort to provide this awesome podcast.

[@macgynan]

That F/A-18 beeping out the swearing just made me recite "FLIGHT CONTROLS, FLIGHT CONTROLS"... Thanks for that guys. haha

[@LtRiot]

pull UP. pull UP

[@jackhaffenhoff1365]

It's episodes like this that show how the whole system works together and makes sure that "less cool" features/components of that system are brought to the front and recognised.

[@mobiuszero1018]

Eurofighter Typhoon for the next ep? Oh my god.I nearly screamed with joy just now! I'm SO glad you guys are gonna do a segment on that plane!

[@Dan20q]

Omg! Hopefully also some detail regarding the famous Eurofighter voice-recognition system!

[@finixhawkeye3213]

At the 1hr mark. His voice reflects the gravity of the emotions involved. ❤️❤️❤️

[@FPVREVIEWS]

What a legend, JLO! There's a special place in my heart for twin cargo planes. I prefer the counter-rotating ones. the rotating propwash is called "slipstream effect".

[@Fast85FoxGT]

Lol this was a terrific episode. Definitely the unsung heroes. Same sort of genre as the truck corps in WW2. I absolutely loved the "armament" section. "Uhhhhhh we had flares and carried survival knives." Awesome LMFAO.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

JLO is a character--a natural for this episode. 😎

[@hikaru248x]

Thanksgiving, November 23rd, 2017, approximately 0700 in the morning local time is when that C-2 went down. I was on one of the ships in the carrier task force, and had just cone off of the 2-7 watch when we got word of the accident. Spent most of the day manning the boat deck and watching the water for any sign of anything. The whole battlegroup was doing SAR sweeps until well after sunset. It was really surreal. When they said it was a miracle anybody made it out alive, they weren't kidding. We were about as in the middle of nowhere as you could get. Nothing but Pacific Ocean for at least 100 miles every direction. I seem to recall hearing that the pilot and copilot stayed at the controls to do everything they could to give everybody else a chance to get out safely. Like J-Lo said, they were real American heroes.

[@christiancormier7847]

I think this may have been your best work yet Jello! Big tip of the hat to JLO. Sunshine I love your technical expertise. I loved that JLO mentioned the Hunt for Red October, one of my favorite movies. Thank you all for this amazing content!

[@HabitualButtonPusher]

Great episode! I always have been a fan of the COD Bros since I got to run around in them at North Island. Our left next door neighbor was a COD Aircrewman and always had neat stories to tell during BBQs. My dad was a Helo Aircrew (thus stuck on the ship) and our other next door neighbor was the maintenance master chief for VAW-113 (thus stuck on the boat). They were always envious of the COD guys.

[@mikejenkins9049]

Great episode and great job explaining how critical the Might War COD’s mission as. Love that you gave a shoutout to Brenner. Det 5 was blessed with his presence as a young LT and I loved being his Senior Crewchief as we traveled all over the world together. I was on the last night op crew, sure loved full cargo and mail loads. It’s going to be a tear jerking day when the last COD rides off into the sunset.

[@cbspock1701]

I love the podcast and have been going through the back catalog. This episode was great. I had no idea that the C2’s were used in the Japan relief efforts. What an amazing story.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

For sure. JLO is the man.

[@ThePrybra07]

Literally every episode is fascinating. Yeah the fighters are cool but learning the totality of how a carrier is supported is awesome. Keep up the awesome work.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thanks, Braden.

[@tracy9738]

I am 1/3 way through the interview, and I am already realizing this is one of my favs!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Many listeners said it was their favorite, Tracy. Wait until you get to when JLO starts talking about a crash...

[@TheModelGuy]

Such a great episode! Still need to build my 1/48 C-2

[@javaace9746]

What a great man. When I think about all of the media carpet bombing we endure over selfish athletes, divas, and superficial fame worshipers..... okay you get my point....my main point is that I am thankful for the real genuine people like JLO and all the people we get to experience here. It’s a well needed balance.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Kind of you to say, Java, thanks. The problem is--all those others sell in this upside world, JLO doesn't.

[@javaace9746]

The Fighter Pilot Podcast Thanks. Yeah I know. Thanks for all you do!

[@simflier8298]

Ive seen footage of the pilots as they bring it aboard. They look very busy and tense. Thank you JLO and all C-2 Drivers for your dedication and tremendous courage.

[@derFlake]

A fine interview by great hosts with an really superb guest and fine guy, who seems to be driven not only by the need for speed but also by the noble urge to serve. Tipping my hat in respect

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thanks very much, Flake.

[@spins321]

Best interview yet! If you weren't a fan of the COD before, this will do it. Thanks much, guys!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Kind of you to say so, you're welcome!

[@SimDeck]

Great stuff. Had me choking up towards the end there while listening to it driving about today. Really enjoyed it. Many thanks.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

You're welcome. 🙏

[@benenglish7811]

I think you mentioned the seats face backwards in the C-2 when carrying passengers, it’s apparently meant to be safer in a crash situation and interestingly some older RAF transport aircraft like the VC-10 had these but now with newer aircraft like the Voyager they are facing the front like an airliner. I remember because my dad flew out to Kosovo in the back of a VC-10.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Interesting, thanks!

[@mikewysko2268]

Excellent interview. Well done!

[@nooranik21]

This may be the best episode yet. I was already excited when I saw that this episode was about the Greyhound, but JLO really drove home the point how vital the COD mission is to the fleet, how demanding that mission can be to accomplish, and just how damned good the C2 is at that mission. If there's ever another opportunity to bring JLO back, please do.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thanks, I'll be sure to let him know! We should still try to do the 'Behind the Scenes' vid we tried to do that night...

[@jasonhansen782]

Thank You for our piece 🙏🇺🇸

[@EstorilEm]

Great episode - listened because of the COD role and was hoping you’d mention the Avenger, and you didn’t disappoint! Just flew ours back from NAS Oceana yesterday. You all had a bit more HP. 😆

[@yxeaviationphotog]

Just to add where the listeners may have seen the C-2.....there is a scene in the movie "Flight of the Intruder" that shows a C-2 trapping on the ship. It's the part of the movie where Willem Dafoe's character comes aboard the ship.

[@exhorderhd]

Wow, what an episode! It‘s really a fitting tribute to those unsung heroes of the COD community, very interesting to listen to JLO‘s stories. Plus, both the intro and Sunshine spinning our heads with all this stuff about the intricacies of prop flying were really funny too 😁 Keep up the great work, cheers from Germany!

[@squiblift2019]

Great show. The C-2A making a cat shot was a part of an episode of NCIS.

[@vtwinbuilder3129]

Bro, that was a tough moment listening to JLO get choked up about the C-2 accident. I could feel that pain.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

No doubt.

[@vtwinbuilder3129]

The Fighter Pilot Podcast on a much lighter note, please keep up the good work, I love the show! You come at this from an angle that you can’t get anywhere else and the insight and explanations your provide are unmatched. Seriously good stuff!!!

[@ligmaboo]

The C-2 wing folding is the Grumman pattoned Sto Wing used in the Avenger and Hellcat too.

[@ligmaboo]

So as usual, Grumman rocks!

[@PrimarchX]

Great episode, yet again. Aviation is always fascinating.

[@RCAvhstape]

The humanitarian aid provided by the Navy during disasters is almost always overlooked in the press. In 1990 there was a massive earthquake in the Philippines and Navy and Marine squadrons and personnel from NAS Cubi Point were running missions up to Baguio, a village which took heavy casualties. It was a pretty big deal for those involved but nobody back home really ever heard much about it. Even worse, not long after that Iraq invaded Kuwait and what little there was in the news was quickly forgotten about.

[@abledog9462]

Hah awesome. When I was at VX-1 I asked our Hawkeye guys about that fixed vert stab and couldn't get a good answer from them. Question answered

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

😎

[@terryboyer1342]

The A-10 and C-2 are the sexiest military aircraft!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

terry boyer beauty is clearly in the eye of the beholder.

[@jeffk6941]

Back in the day, this was your only tie to home while at sea. You're always looking up hoping to see a C2, or even better, two of them because parts take priority. Plus a backwards Cat shot was interesting.

[@johnstuckaiii]

Why would there be a backwards cat launch ever ? and I'm just having trouble visualizing what you mean by that ....

[@jeffk6941]

@@johnstuckaiii when they put seats in the C-2 , they face backwards.

[@johnstuckaiii]

@@jeffk6941 thanks!

[@PrimarchX]

"So you don't like flyin', huh? This is nothin'! You shoulda been with us five, six months ago! Whoa, talk about puke! We ran into a hailstorm over the Sea of Japan! Everyone was retchin' his guts out! The pilot shot his lunch all over the windshield, and I barfed on the radio - knocked it out completely! It wasn't that lightweight stuff, either; it was that chunky, industrial-weight puke! Here, ya wanna bite?"

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Impressive!

[@TitusFFM]

Well and I always thought that he was flying in a Hawkeye in.

[@IkeThe9th]

“Next time, Jack... put it in a memo!”

[@PrimarchX]

Watched "The Final Countdown" last night. No C-2s on the Nimitz but I think there's one in a hanger at Pearl Harbor under repair just as Martin Sheen is about to board the Sea King on the way out to the carrier.

[@alaskanmarine1]

Everyone loves mail! and spare engines!

[@ryanurbanozo3315]

Since all carrier landings are graded, is there a greenie board as well for C-2 pilots?

[@wyskass861]

It's surprising to hear how so many military aircraft don't have autopilots (B52, B2 even) which have been standard in civ crafts for decades. I understand there are connected issues with retrofit, but these aren't all old airplanes and it's not an advanced tech. I wonder what reasons there are for this, that I'm not aware.

[@finixhawkeye3213]

The most important job. Getting the right stuff to the right stuff to their good stuff 😉

[@davidmason3680]

It's great you got the COD, but how can a Navy pilot have a 2 part series on the F-15 before talking about the E-2 Hawkeye?? I know the one episode has an E-2 guy talking, but you need a devoted episode! I know the perfect person with great stories about chasing Bears and Med cruises.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

I guess because this is the "Fighter Pilot Podcast." That said, we do have an E-2 Hawkeye interview recorded. The episode should air in December.

[@mauricemcloughlin8261]

So so interesting.

[@aaronanstett8987]

Man the e2 Hawkeye and c2 greyhound are some sexy ass planes

[@johnm8252]

Go Navy!! Go Vandals!!!

[@johntack1049]

“You screw up even this much....” Maverick: Proceeds to screw up

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

...by quite a bit more than "this much" !

[@wyskass861]

Jell-O interviews JLO. Also wonder if JLO dislikes Jennifer Lopez taking his callsign. Nice to hear about logistics and giving credit to the cargo planes, trucks of the sky which make everything work.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

The last C-2 just left North Island last week

[@wyskass861]

​@@FighterPilotPodcast Oh! then time for the CMV-22 to get serious. I've actually already watched your more recent Eo 157 on that one. Now I've gone back to the early episodes and binging on all your aircraft specific formats. It's so much good content, especially the stories, anecdotes and tech details not available on spec sheets. It'll take a while to catch up from 4 years back.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

@@wyskass861 enjoy the journey!

[@LtRiot]

That deedle deedle got me lmao

[@andrewchr]

HAHA loved the intro!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

😎

[@dks13827]

Years ago, I could not fly military due to eyeglasses............. but I did fly multi/instrument and helicopters though. Had I flown in the military, heck a C-130, C-141, or a C-2 would have all been good flying !!! It's all good.

[@tabascoindy5005]

Landing C2 on carrier is good. Landing C130 on carrier is the best.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Landing a C-130 on a carrier is a novelty.

[@tzebra]

Definitely (need) more logistical aircraft.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

As in the military or featured on the show?

[@tzebra]

@@FighterPilotPodcast Military logistical aircraft. Have been a leg (non-airborne) in the back of a few. Without their job, we couldn't have done ours. On the other side of the range card...think you have done an above excellent job on the show. Have learned a lot, simply by listening.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

@@tzebra Thank you. 🙏

[@MasterChief-sl9ro]

The Right Stuff is Pilots doing the right thing. To save their plane. In Spite of knowing they could die. Yet they remain calm. Keeping their focus. And dealing with the things they can control. I never understood it. Till I looked certain death in the face. Knowing this was it. Yet by some hand of God. It wasn't my time. Yet I was ready to leave this world. It was Biblical... So his fellow C-2 Pilots had the Right Stuff. As they died. So others could live.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Amen.

[@get2dachoppa249]

How prophetic is it that at 20:51, JLO starts talking about the need for toilet paper, 5 months before the corona virus lock-down...

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

He's a man before his time.

[@therocinante3443]

Ever want to make an inappropriate joke but respect the channel to much to put it in the comments section? Me neither until today!

[@unusualbydefault]

F*deedledeedle*ing lmao

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

We're a family show. 😉

[@davidmariopratt]

What an intro!!🤣🤣

[@sharper7953]

One of the ''first''

[@Gomendio]

in COD we trust¡¡

[@SDsc0rch]

"first" :)