Grumman C-2 Greyhound

C-2 Greyhound
A C-2A in July 1988, based at Naval Air Station, Sigonella (Sicily, Italy)
Role	Carrier-capable transport / Carrier onboard delivery
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Grumman Northrop Grumman
First flight	18 November 1964
Introduction	1966
Retired	1987, C-2A
Status	39 C-2(R) in service
Primary user	United States Navy
Produced	C-2A: 1965-1968 C-2A(R): 1985-1989
Number built	58
Unit cost	US$38.96 million
Developed from	Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye

The Grumman C-2 Greyhound is a twin-engine, high-wing cargo aircraft, designed to carry supplies and mail to and from aircraft carriers of the United States Navy. Its primary mission is carrier onboard delivery (COD). The aircraft provides critical logistics support to carrier strike groups. The aircraft is mainly used to transport high-priority cargo, mail and passengers between carriers and shore bases, and can deliver items like jet engines, and special stores.

Prototypes C-2s first flew in 1964 and production followed the next year. The initial Greyhound aircraft were overhauled in 1973. More C-2s were ordered in the 1980s. Further improvements to the C-2 have followed.

Design and development

The C-2 Greyhound, a derivative of the E-2 Hawkeye, shares wings and power plants with the E-2 but has a widened fuselage with a rear loading ramp. The first of two prototypes flew in 1964. After successful testing, Grumman began production of the aircraft in 1965. The C-2 replaced the piston-engined C-1 Trader in the COD role. The original C-2A aircraft were overhauled to extend their operational life in 1973.

Interior view from the tail of a C-2A Greyhound assigned to Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40 (VRC-40)

Powered by two Allison T56 turboprop engines, the C-2A can deliver up to 10,000 pounds (4,500 kg) of cargo, passengers or both. It can also carry litter patients in medical evacuation missions. A cage system or transport stand restrains cargo during carrier launch and landing. The large aft cargo ramp and door and a powered winch allow straight-in rear cargo loading and unloading for fast turnaround. The Greyhound can airdrop supplies and personnel, fold its wings, and generate power for engine starting and other uses provide an operational versatility found in no other cargo aircraft.

The aircraft has four vertical stabilizers because of aircraft carrier hangar deck height restrictions. Only three of these stabilizers have working rudders. For adequate directional control of an aircraft of this size, a single rudder would have been too tall. It also places the outboard rudder surfaces directly in line with the propeller wash, providing effective yaw control even as the plane's airspeed approaches zero, as during takeoff and landing.

In 1984, the Navy ordered 39 new C-2A aircraft to replace older airframes. Dubbed the Reprocured C-2A (C-2A(R)) due to the similarity to the original, the new aircraft has airframe improvements and better avionics. The older C-2As were phased out in 1987, and the last of the new models was delivered in 1990.

Upgrades

A C-2A taxis prior to takeoff on a flight to USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) in Feb 1984. This was the first Greyhound delivered in 1966.

The 36 C-2A(R)s are undergoing a critical Service Life Extension Program (SLEP). The lifespan of the C-2A(R) was 10,000 hours, or 15,000 carrier landings; current plans require the C-2A to perform its mission supporting battle group operational readiness through 2015. The landing limit is quickly approaching for most of the airframes, and the SLEP will increase the Greyhound's projected life to 15,000 hours or 36,000 landings. Once the program is complete, it will allow the current 36 aircraft to operate until 2027. The SLEP includes structural improvements to the center wing, navigational upgrades including the addition of GPS and the dual CAINS II Navigation System, the addition of crash survivable flight incident recorders, and a Ground Proximity Warning System. The first upgraded C-2A(R) left NAVAIR Depot North Island on 12 September 2005, after sitting on the ground for three and a half years while the SLEP was developed and installed. A second airframe is currently nearing completion and it is anticipated that the remaining 34 aircraft will all undergo the SLEP upgrade within the next five years as operations and schedule permit. The eight-bladed NP2000 propeller is another part of this upgrade and is expected to be installed by 2010.

In November 2008, the company also obtained a $37m contract for the maintenance, logistics and aviation administration services over five years for the C-2A fleet assigned to VX-20 test and evaluation squadron at Patuxent River. Northrop Grumman is currently working on an upgraded C-2 version.

Operational history

An illustration to commemorate VRC 40 "Rawhides" detachment of C-2A(R) Greyhounds to the French Navy in June 2011

Between November 1985 and February 1987, VR-24 (the former Navy Transport Squadron) and its seven reprocured C-2As demonstrated the aircraft's exceptional operational readiness. The squadron delivered 2,000,000 pounds (910 t) of cargo, 2,000,000 pounds (910 t) of mail and 14,000 passengers in the European and Mediterranean theatres. The C-2A(R) also served the carrier battle groups during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, as well as currently during Operation Enduring Freedom.

The Common Support Aircraft was once considered as a replacement for the C-2, but failed to materialize. Currently, there are no plans to replace the C-2A(R) fleet, and there are no replacement aircraft in development. The USN was exploring a replacement for the C-2, including the V-22 Osprey as of September 2009.

On 2 June 2011, the US Navy loaned two C-2A(R) Greyhounds from VRC-40 (USN BuNos 162143 & 162165) to the French Navy. The two aircraft were stationed at Toulon-Hyères Airport, Hyères to assist in improving the flow of logistics and supplies to the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle operating in the Mediterannean Sea off Libya in support of the NATO intervention in Libya. After 16 days, both aircraft returned to the US via Shannon Airport, Ireland on 18 June 2011.

Variants

A VRC-40 C-2A after SLEP on the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), July 2009

YC-2A

Prototype, two converted from E-2A Hawkeyes with redesigned fuselage.

C-2A

Production variant, 17 built.

C-2A(R)

"Reprocured" C-2A with improved systems based on the E-2C variant, 39 built.

Operators

United States

• United States Navy
  • VRC-30
  • VRC-40
  • VX-20

Specifications (Reprocured C-2A)

Data from NAVAIR Performance Summary

General characteristics

• Crew: 2 pilots, 2 aircrew
• Capacity: 26 passengers, 12 litter patients
• Payload: 10,000 lb (4,536 kg)
• Length: 56 ft 10 in (17.30 m)
• Wingspan: 80 ft 7 in (24.60 m)
• Height: 15 ft 10½ in (4.85 m)
• Wing area: 700 ft² (65 m²)
• Empty weight: 33,746 lb (15,310 kg)
• Loaded weight: 49,394 lb (22,405 kg)
• Useful load: 20,608 lb (9,350 kg)
• Max. takeoff weight: 60,000 lb (24,655 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Allison T56-A-425 turboprops, 4,600 shp (3,400 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 343 knots (394 mph, 553 km/h) at 12,000 ft (3,660 m)
• Cruise speed: 251 knots (289 mph, 465 km/h) at 28,700 ft (8,750 m)
• Stall speed: 82 knots (94 mph, 152 km/h) at idle power
• Range: 1,300 nm (1,496 mi, 2,400 km)
• Service ceiling: 33,500 ft (10,210 m)
• Rate of climb: 2,610 ft/min (13.3 m/s)
• Wing loading: 77.6 lb/ft² (378.9 kg/m²)

See also

Related development

• Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye
  

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Grumman C-1 Trader
• Lockheed US-3 Viking
  

External links

• US Navy C-2 fact file
• US Navy Historical Center C-2A Factsheet