US Navy C2-A 'Greyhound' Truckee Airshow

[@skeeterman7144]

I toured the Stennis overnight years ago from Norfolk via the COD. Arrested landing was wild. Steep banking and saw the ships wake coming up and knew we were close. Only two windows to see out of. You sit backwards in the cabin. The cat shot next day was fun. They didn’t allow us to have ANYTHING in our lap for departure. Leaving the ship I felt a big jolt and then it seemed as if we were stalling. Turned out the transition to the air was so smooth it gave you the feeling we weren’t moving. Crazy ride and a lifetime memory.

[@johnslaughter5475]

What I remember when I arrived on the Ranger in a C-2 was that it was like getting kicked in the butt. I'm glad we faced aft. A lot better than slamming into the harness. I'll bet a lot of pilots have bruises on their shoulders.

[@uTube486]

I got to my camera...

[@skeeterman7144]

@@uTube486 awesome. if you have any video I’d love to see it on you tube!

[@uTube486]

@@skeeterman7144 I made a few stills, but no videos, and they're old film shots,not digitized yet.

[@muskaos]

I retired from the _Stennis_ in 2014.

[@richb313]

Thanks for showing the part of aviation that hardly ever gets any press or appreciation.

[@skytrainii]

I flew the predecessor, the C-1A, in VR-30, the predecessor of VRC-30, in 1975. We would deploy to NAS North Island from NAS Alameda to support the unloads and offloads of the ships. I also flew the C-9B's and The CT-39's for our squadron as well. But the C1-A time was the best flying ever. We worked long hard hours and enjoyed every minute of it.

[@chazflyz]

C-2 pilots always have the best 'staches in the Navy.

[@karlscribner7436]

Grow those to prove they’re adults 😁

[@flyrobroy]

It’s true 👨🏻

[@catshotfourone7951]

I worked on C2's in the very early 80's as an AD with VRC-50 Foo Dogs NAS Cubi Point RP, got 5 or 6 catshot's and landings USS Midway and USS Ranger, had the time of my life. 🇺🇸FLY NAVY 🇺🇸

[@jhmcglynn]

I worked for Grumman starting as a college intern from 1967 till 1970 when we were building these.

[@DirtyOldSailor]

I was in VRC-50 also from Dec 79-Apr 83. Worked in the AME Shop after the Line Division. Was in every C-2A Squadron except VRC-30 including both Rag squadrons. Went to work for Grumman for a couple years after I Retired in 99.

[@catshotfourone7951]

@@DirtyOldSailor I left late 83 I'm sure we crossed paths but the memories are fading did my last year in the navy with VAW-114 Hawgs out of NAS Miramar then left the navy,,,, but I remember the Mariposa bar heck yeah!

[@meme-ss6ho]

@CatShot FourOne…… I was in Drifty Fifty 80-83…… Airframes, right next door to the mechanics……. Keys, Virata, SC Potter, Worked in AF’s with me….. A mech named Gibbs I knew…… rode a Harley, only one of the Foo Dogs that did……

[@DirtyOldSailor]

I meant IO Det.

[@Old-Dog-Max]

I've heard the Greyhound is the best ride in the Navy. No night carrier landings, mostly back on land for supper, and no one trying to blow you out of the sky. Beats the life of a fighter pilot. Plus it's an opportunity for enlisted to be aircrew. I was a Coast Guard C-123B Loadmaster back 53 yrs ago. Best thing going back then. Great memories.

[@jimmers1221]

Being an ex AWF NAC/AW Aircrewman was the best job ill have ever had!!!

[@thedangersofboredom]

“First reaction” oh how nice they have some cadets giving tours of the aircraft. Nope I’m old now and those are fully trained and qualified flight crew.

[@mdb831]

😆 🤣

[@Old-Dog-Max]

Lol.. I was just 18 when I was a certified Loadmaster on C-123B on Guam well over 50 yrs ago. Still wet behind the ears but still sporting a mustache... only extra hair allowed at the time, still have it at 71 yrs.

[@Paul51178]

I have a total of 172 traps and cats on 5 different decks in the C-2. I was a crew chief in VRC-30 in the 90's. It was always exciting, but the real fun was flying around with the ramp open and dropping SEALs and equipment. They were talking about the V-22 as a replacement back then and all of us crewman said we would never fly in them.

[@toddhaskins2302]

Thanks!

[@oldmanwinter1405]

cool memories. 1970 I flew on a COD from Da Nang to the USS Ranger. Experienced both a tailhook landing and a cat shot.

[@SmittySmithsonite]

Thank you for your service!

[@johnslaughter5475]

In 1968 I flew from Cubi Point to the Ranger on a C-2. I flew off the ship one time, but that was in a C-1, no catapult necessary. Go all the way aft, run up the engines, and go down the angle until you fall off the end.

[@oldmanwinter1405]

@@johnslaughter5475 Thanks for your service sir.

[@SkyhawkFlyer]

My one and only catshot was in a C-2 when I left the Ike for good. While working on the deck launching our own S-3s I'd seen the Hawkeyes and Greyhounds spool up and standby for launch many times. I'm in the aft row, facing aft. So, there's nothing between me and the ramp. It closes and there's silence for some time before the engines start. Eventually, I can feel us taxi toward the catapult. I can feel the bird jerk when the catapult pulls snug on the launch bar. Again, we're waiting. Finally, the engines spool up. More waiting. We were delayed another good five minutes at that point. While we're seated and strapped in by five points, they tell us to cross our arms and our legs, hold them back tight. But after sitting for so long with nothing happening the natural thing to do is relax. Suddenly, there the launch and my arms and my legs fly out, directly aft horizontally. It felt like I had no muscle control for a couple seconds. It was about an hour flight to Souda Bay where we'd get to sleep in the air terminal overnight before flying on to Naples then Rota Spain then a contracted civilian airliner to Philadelphia before returning to our homebase in Jacksonville. Luckily, my squadron had a corrosion control team at Souda Bay led by a chief I had worked for. Chief Gaylord made sure I had a rack to sleep in overnight instead of a tile floor at the air terminal.

[@jesseketcham6154]

Thanks, Juan; not only did you get some great shots and commentary, but you once again demonstrated why I trust your take on accidents, incidents, and airshows. Well done!

[@blancolirio]

Thanks Jesse!

[@brucecthompson5485]

Spent 8 years and 2000+ hours flying as a Loadmaster/In-Flight Plane Captain on the Greyhound in VR-24 in Sicily and VAW-120 in Norfolk, VA. I have actually logged time in the aircraft in the video, BuNo 162163. Thanks for showing!

[@1rembo69]

All V-22's are assembled here in Amarillo, Tx. so everytime I see I'm proud to Say that right there was once here & it's first time off the ground happened here!!!!! Fun to see them being test flown.

[@Bellman84]

Those fly over my house here and there. Long love the C-2A. Brings the mail and supply to the sailors.

[@TyphoonVstrom]

We'll start seeing these over firegrounds as soon as they retire. Will be an excellent replacement for the Trackers, and a great midsize water bomber.

[@caltom1427]

Was a passenger on one when it landed on CVN 73 Geo. Washington on the Atlantic. Fun times.

[@asteverino8569]

Thanks for these shorts, Juan. Nice young pilots too.

[@wayneschenk5512]

I know a bank employee who rode out to a carrier off WA Australia with bundles of cash Australian dollars in the 80s said the arrival and departure off the carrier was a life long highlight.

[@muskaos]

I loaded and unloaded those things for 2 years on the _Kitty Hawk_ , 1998 - 2000. If you flew onto or off that carrier on a COD or helo during that time, I worked with you to get you on or off. Passenger load depends on the number of seats installed, normally they run 6 rows to leave room for some cargo up front. 22 Pax + 2 loadmasters + 1k or so of cargo. For a deployed airwing there would usually be a 2 plane C-2A det attached. VRC-30 Det 5 was the forward deployed COD detachment. 7 rows is 26 pax + 2 aircrew. C-2A is being replaced because they can't take the engine of the F-35 in the back, it is too big when it is canned up for transport. @blancolirio the C-2A doesnt have cargo rollers in the back, like your old C-141 did, did you notice? All the cargo in the back has to be unloaded by hand, there is big ole pry bar in the back of the C-2 for levering around palletized loads. Let me tell you about the time some genius decided to send a tri-wall full of blue practice bombs out on the COS, that thing must have weighted 4000 lbs. :(

[@Dstew57A]

Such a privilege to be interviewed by Blancoliro😉

[@dremwolf5419]

Love when the C-2's and E-2's visit NAS Jacksonville. Love the sound versus the old P-3's and now the P-8's.

[@djbowler3333]

Saw somewhere that the COD is the aircraft the smart guys choose. You build your multi time and you're shore based but still launch and trap

[@sailormike1089]

I was stationed onboard the Lexington V-2 Arresting Gear and we both had the C-1 Trader and the C-2 (with 4 bladed engines). If I remember correctly the landing weight for the C-2 for our gear setting was 34,000 pounds.

[@justice3865]

Ah, the old Dirty Bird! I was an airframer on these about 20 years ago 😅.

[@seank.8854]

Many late nights working this aircraft along with the e-2. Was at vrc-30 during the conversion from 4 to 8 blades. Hate to see such a fine aircraft get replaced. I will never forget all the dirty bilge rats I had the pleasure of serving with along the way.

[@DSW964]

I was a plane captain on E2’s back in the day. Took the chance to catch a catapult with a C2 from the boat when my papers were approved after GW1. If I was in the same position with the COD’s replacement V-22 I would pass on that flight.

[@TheChad138]

I landed on the USS Abraham Lincoln in the back of one of these in 2003, from the same squadron too.

[@kenclark9888]

Carrier On Board Delivery. COD good friend of mine flew those for years

[@SmittySmithsonite]

Nice! Can't say I've ever seen one of those Greyhounds before. Actually, I may have at CLE a few years back - I'll have to look at my pics and video. Love the concept of those Ospreys. I love helicopters, so that thing is right up my alley. Does seem to have a higher than average incident rate from where I'm sitting, however. Hope they've worked those bugs out of it. I'm not a big fan of moving from the tried and true into something less so.

[@TC.C]

Awesome Juan!

[@paulbervid1610]

Rather fly in that than the Osprey.

[@feathersandflaps]

love that TEXAS patch!

[@edmundomarceloperez2238]

A beauty!!! I am working in a model plastic 1/48. I enjoy it.

[@flyingfox8360]

Ayyye! I did my Limdu tour with the Providers

[@alynnhiscox7303]

Nice! We'll be up there tomorrow!

[@MrRugbylane]

The moustaches make these fellahs look at least 16 🤣

[@thomaswilson8634]

That ole greyhound would make a awesome carrier based gunship for ground troops going ashore. Tons of ordinance, pinpoint accuracy. Wonder why they didn't try that after retiring the ole A1 Skywalker.

[@COIcultist]

That is your replacement over there? "Oh. Boy!" Was that really, Oh. Boy! Or Oh. Dear? What is the downtime on those things? What is the comparative operational radius?

[@rebuildranch1225]

Looks like the next generation jump plane!!

[@espeescotty]

Super cool plane! I'll be sad to see them go.

[@danielmierop662]

Thank you Juan

[@robnamowicz8073]

Thanks Juan for this shot of Navy fellas. If you can, help me solve a problem. I live on a small inland lake in Michigan. Recently one neighbor has allowed a hot shot float plane to moor at his home. July 4 mid day on a 130 acre lake full of pontoon boats, swimmers, kayakers and speed boats, this yahoo sets down his Super Cub, some folks saying within thirty feet of swimmers. July 5 he did several hours of touch and goes. Is there a complaint FAA form for reckless floatplane pilots? thanks a million, been watching since the Oroville dam series, you're the greatest!

[@grahamtanner1066]

We need a close-up walkaround of the F/A-18 and also the CMV-22 (pretty please!)

[@melissam3559]

My old command!! VRC-30!! ♥️

[@monostripezebras]

One of the coolest aircraft

[@rmshivo]

beautiful beast

[@akb5531]

Did I miss the "I just got back home" video?

[@Dobermanator]

Is it not basically the same as the E-2 Hawkeye just a cargo version?

[@justice3865]

Thats exactly what it is. The original prototype was a modified E-2 airframe, and the two share almost all parts, except for the advanced avionics.

[@ehsnils]

The C2-A - someone washed a C130 so much it shrunk.

[@CMDRSweeper]

Arrgh! So many questions missed here Juan... Where is the cat hookup point or more interestingly... Why are the seats at the back of the aircraft... Wouldn't it make sense to have the seats in the front and the cargo in the back since the door is there?

[@LIamaLlama554]

CoG issue?

[@Paul51178]

The arm sticking forward from the nose gear is the attachment point for the catapult. The pax seats face rearwards in military transport aircraft for safety in event of a landing mishap. The cargo is forward of the pax for CG reasons. The pax are last on and first off through the ramp so you wouldn't want to have them crawl through the cargo cage if the seating was forward, and the cargo won't plow through the pax in the event of a landing mishap.

[@morthomer5804]

Does that mean I can get a surplus one?

[@davidpearn5925]

Are there any old retired Osprey pilots ?

[@christopherhadsell9049]

Cool plane!

[@thomaswilson8634]

Juan what is your opinion on diesel engines in Cessna 172s

[@waynep343]

The bolter drops below the deck view and flys away in a early warning plane with the new 8 blade props . I wonder if when they retire these if cal fire could get the engines and 8 bladed props to retrofit on cal fires fleet.

[@Paul51178]

What airframe could CalFire put them on?

[@waynep343]

@@Paul51178 cal fire has turbine conversion S2.

[@Paul51178]

@@waynep343 The C-2 engines are the same as on the P-3's and the C-130's, the S2 couldn't carry them.

[@waynep343]

@@Paul51178 thank you. It was just a thought.. I was not aware what fit what..

[@Paul51178]

@@waynep343 There's a huge difference between the PT-6 and the 501/T-56 class of powerplants.

[@sastrugi4471]

Are these the star wars carrier guys?

[@bernardanderson3758]

Naval Aviation at its best

[@johnblecker4206]

One cool plane to fly.

[@mr.yuk4858]

I bet some drop zones would love to get ahold of those. I know skydivers prefer to jump from the back of aircraft.

[@markhartshorn6366]

My new school bus;)

[@rhvfd10]

It would be interesting to see if CalFire buys these in retirement

[@jarjar684]

The Greyhound would be able to carry more retardant than the tracker.

[@mytmousemalibu]

IF they can get their hands on them. Our military doesn't generally sell off retired surplus aircraft. They will probably, unfortunately go sit in the desert till scrapped. Most civil operated US military aircraft was sold to a foreign country and bought from retired foreign fleets.

[@michaelharper4989]

Just a reminder that NASA's version of the Osprey, the XV-15 never crashed. My branch chief was part of the original team working on the XV-15.

[@calhntr1]

It never crashed because besides flying, it never did any real work,

[@nancychace8619]

Thanks for the tour. So do you land on the deck with 26 "happy campers"? It's an interesting old bird. Forgive my ignorance - typically what is it used for? I like to know my tax dollars are being applied in a constructive manner 🙂 Thank you for being there. Your efforts count for a lot. Stay safe and smooth sailing to all of you. ⚓️🇺🇸🗽

[@straybullitt]

It's used to carry 26 happy campers back and forth from the carrier to land. Probably, more often, they are used to carry any spare parts, supplies or equipment that the carrier may quickly need while at sea.

[@Dobermanator]

When they run out of ketchup, can't / won't wait for a supply vessel, they won't let them use FA-18 weapons pod to carry a resupply so they use this carrier box truck of a plane.

[@blancolirio]

COD Carrier On Delivery How you get supplies and personnel on and off the Carrier.

[@DARANGULAFILM]

@@blancolirio In terms of cost-benefit, how would the newer Osprey and this fixed wing aircraft compare?

[@nancychace8619]

@@DARANGULAFILM Good question. The Osprey looks a tad bit more expensive.

[@JSFGuy]

Well past retirement. The Greyhound. C-2A(R)....🤔

[@carlatamanczyk3891]

That's ok.... let's keep them flying if possible.

[@SmittySmithsonite]

Everything I drive is well past retirement. 😁 I wouldn't have it any other way!

[@harveywallbanger3123]

I always thought the COD pilots had the toughest job. That thing is a whale compared to a fighter, surely landing in bad weather must be a nightmare.

[@davidgibson7670]

Replacing a fixed wing with a tilt rotor seems strange.

[@IvorMektin1701]

The V-22 can carry spare F-35 engines in the cargo hold.

[@badlandskid]

And dangerous

[@drdoolittle5724]

should work, 9 out of 10 times!

[@drdoolittle5724]

Buffalo Airlines next Dak replacements?

[@johnslaughter5475]

Really a great plane. I flew out to the Ranger from Cubi Point in a C-2 in November, 1968. Like getting a kick in the butt when we trapped. Facing aft so didn't get slammed into the harness when trapping. I think there were only 4 blades on the props then. As far as I can find, since the C-2 was first delivered to the Navy, there have been only 8 accidents. Unfortunately, due to the type of operations, there is a rather high fatality rate. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_C-2_Greyhound

[@Av-vd3wk]

It’s so small!

[@robsalisbury2550]

Now that these are being phased out I wonder how they would do as air tankers

[@tomdchi12]

Not sure why, but I really like the Greyhound. Then again, I've never been one of those "happy campers" for a carrier takeoff or landing.

[@hoobsgroove]

it's not called the codpiece then.... carrying on delivery private 😂

[@SFsc616171]

And to think ....yours truly was stationed with NAVPRO?DPRO Grumman Bethpage, where these aircraft were assembled, stuffed, and accepted by the USNavy from 1986 to 1994.

[@xsleep1]

Hook?

[@justice3865]

Right there on the bottom of the ramp, next to the extendable tail skid.

[@tundramanq]

At some point the props should be called unducted fans. Gotta love the Greyhound's simple reliability. The V-22's have came a long way over the decades from the unreliable Ospreys.

[@Oberkaptain]

Wow they actually washed one.

[@jimbates955]

Time to lean, time to clean!

[@Bramon83]

I thought that was goose in the thumbnail

[@jasoncorreal8810]

My brother was killed in a plane crash at truckee in '94

[@jwagner1993]

The replacement: I hope not 😅

[@SCSuperheavy114]

Ahh the mustache kids…

[@artnickel1664]

C-2 has been flying off carriers since the 1970s that I’m aware of. They replaced the props because 4-blade jobs were falling off.

[@justice3865]

No, the original airframes were built in the early 60's. All of those were retired and a whole new batch were built in the 80's, and are whats flying today. The 8 blade props were introduced in the mid 2000's not because they were falling off, but because the E-2's were being upgraded with them and C-2s share many, many parts, including the powerplants. The C-2 that was lost a few years ago lost its prop nose cone, but not the propeller itself, and by then it was already using the 8 bladed version. Otherwise this is a very safe and reliable aircraft.

[@DirtyOldSailor]

They weren't falling off. A couple cases of slinging a blade. They were replaced to reduce aircraft vibration. I worked on them my entire Navy career.

[@spunktronic9262]

TALK TO ME GOOSE

[@Howrider65]

The replacement has been grounded. 6/24

[@nbt3663]

One of the more no room for error plans landing at sea. Just no forgiveness.

[@haganwilson8609]

AWF3 Le needs to shave that nasty mustache

[@stevenle4788]

BRO

[@hollycapling9013]

Can I have the gingers number

[@hollycapling9013]

I think his name is Daniel