Grumman C-2 Greyhound facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Grumman C-2 Greyhound
Grumman C-2 Greyhound of the US Navy.
Role	Shipborn transport aircraft
National origin	USA.
Manufacturer	Grumman
First flight	1964
Introduction	1966
Status	Active
Primary user	US Navy.
Produced	Out of production.
Number built	56

The Grumman C-2 Greyhound is a special American military aircraft. It is used by the United States Navy to carry important things. This plane's main job is to fly supplies, mail, and people to and from aircraft carriers at sea. This type of airplane is known as a COD. COD stands for "Carrier Onboard Delivery". The C-2 Greyhound first flew in 1964 and was introduced in 1966. It has been a very important plane for the Navy for many years. In 2020, the Navy began replacing it with the CMV-22B Osprey.

What is a Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) Aircraft?

A COD aircraft is like a delivery truck for an aircraft carrier. Aircraft carriers are huge ships that operate far out at sea. They need a constant supply of parts, mail, food, and sometimes even people. The C-2 Greyhound was designed to do this job. It can land on the short deck of an aircraft carrier. It can also take off from the carrier using a special catapult system.

How the C-2 Greyhound Works

The C-2 Greyhound has two powerful engines with propellers. It has a large cargo area inside. This area can hold up to 10,000 pounds of cargo. It can also carry up to 26 passengers. The plane has a strong landing gear. This helps it handle the tough landings on an aircraft carrier. It also has a rear ramp. This ramp can be lowered to load and unload cargo quickly.

History of the Greyhound

The Grumman C-2 Greyhound was built by the Grumman company. It was based on an earlier Navy plane called the E-2 Hawkeye. The first C-2 flew in 1964. It joined the Navy fleet in 1966. Over the years, 56 of these planes were built. They have served the Navy all around the world.

Why the Greyhound is Being Replaced

The C-2 Greyhound has been a reliable plane for decades. However, it is an older design. The CMV-22B Osprey is a newer aircraft. It can fly faster and carry more cargo. The Osprey can also take off and land like a helicopter. This makes it more flexible for different missions. The Navy is slowly replacing all C-2 Greyhounds with the new CMV-22B Osprey.

Images for kids

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

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

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  A C-2 Greyhound launches from a carrier at sea

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  USS George Washington crew unload mail from two C-2A Greyhounds in 2011

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

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  C-2A 162175 lost on 22 November 2017, seen here landing on the USS Ronald Reagan in July 2017

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  Orthographically projected diagram of the C-2A Greyhound

See also

In Spanish: Grumman C-2 Greyhound para niños