USN C-2 Greyhounds
 

Bit late to the party with the article, but these things are always a joy to watch tearing out of Muscat.

Beginning of End for Navy's C-2 Greyhound | Military.com

A very useful aircraft. Ugly and unglamorous, but surely gets the job done quite well.


I had the pleasure of getting a behind the scene tour and "fly" the non-motion simulator at Norfolk, Virginia (I made the deck!) but never got to fly in one. Single engine got your attention.

And as I post two of them are droning along the South Devon coast, having launched from their carrier out in the western approaches. Heading, I believe, to Stansted.

They were at Mildenhall and departed this morning

Cheers

And Stanstead's too shallow for a carrier!

Was there not a issue with the tiltrotor, that it couldnt carry replacement/repaired jet engines (as the C2 can) .

I think it was a fully assembled F-35 engine that was the size issue for the V22.

OH

Always puzzled me, noting that it had four vertical fins but only three rudders.

Critical engine effect?


Someone correct me if I'm wrong (ok, it's PPrune - I don't even have to ask). When the C-2 goes in 2026, I believe it will be the last Grumman type in USN service - after 95 years and the FF-1. Quite a record!

The E-2 is both still in service and production, with no replacement on the horizon. :ok:

Great video, would have been better sans music though.


But here's a question, I thought all carrier landings are followed by an
immediate application of full power in case a cable is not caught you
have the power up to take it back around.


Its quite apparent this C2 pilot did not do this, the power levers were
not advanced after touchdown on the carrier.


Anyone know the reason why ?

'stilton' perhaps this explanation for the E-2 Hawkeye incident by 'KenV' is relevant: C-2A is "Powered by two Allison T56 turboprop engines"
Otherwise - yes - JETS with around about 85% RPM approx. during a carrier approach at carrier landing weight, have a couple of seconds or less to spool up to 100% RPM (maybe one second - depends on engine I guess) and then there is that slight lag for the extra power to take effect. The A4G Skyhawk had a great engine response at carrier landing weight at optimum angle of attack.

Turboprops (and S2 pistons, another fine product of the Grumman Ironworks which I flew off a carrier deck) have a more rapid response time to lift off again in the event of a 'bolter' (missed wire), hook point or arrester wire failure. Jets have a lag in producing full power so the jet jocks assume the worst and apply power until the arrest is confirmed.

Like Titanic's fourth funnel, entirely for aesthetic reasons, so I understand. Apparently the E-2's yaw instability was cured with the installation of three fins, with the centre one offset to port or starboard. Presumably fitting it on the centreline was not an option (airflow from the radar dish, perhaps?), but a single offset fin didn't look so good. So four were fitted to even it out.

One of those useless facts I know I've read, but just cannot find.

WickedPedia says this: "The C-2 has four vertical stabilizers, of which three are fitted with rudders. A single vertical stabilizer large enough for adequate directional control would have made the aircraft too tall to fit on an aircraft carrier hangar deck. The four-stabilizer configuration has the advantage of placing the outboard rudder surfaces directly in line with the propeller wash, providing effective yaw control down to low airspeeds, such as during takeoff and landing. The inner-left stabilizer lacks a rudder, and has been called the "executive tail", as it has nothing to do compared to the other three." Whilst go here for the good stuff: http://tailspintopics.blog [join] spot.com.au/2011/05/grumman-c-2-greyound.html

http://3.bp.********.com/-HY0TnAytSe...39+cropped.jpg

I knew I'd miss something obvious.

A question - Captain Dart? Did the S-2 take a "cut" (close throttles) on command from the LSO, and do the turbo props do likewise? Did in the single engine piston I'm familiar with.

'megan' do refer to Sea Furies/Fireflys with the LSO batsman? The MIRROR/FLOLS/IFLOLS era would have 'the cut' from the LSO on a sound powered telephone &/or the 'CUT' lights only in special circumstances, such as a barrier engagement or worse.

Hi Megan, yes, Tracker pilots were given the 'cut'; green lights on the side of the mirror if my memory is correct. Close the throttles, hold the attitude, and kerashh! Onto the deck and hopefully a wire. Can't speak for the Hawkeye/COD crews though.

Fallmonk,
The F-135 engine (sans lift fan) can fit into a V-22 using a cradle rather than container. This article also has some interesting notes about the relative capabilities of the CMV-22B versus the old C-2. It seems the former can deliver appreciably more cargo at long range, with the advantage of being able to land direct on the 'phibs. Handy if your broken F-135 is on an LHA or LHD.....http://navalaviationnews.navylive.do...s-golden-mile/


If a naval power only had VTOL capable fleet carriers the CMV-22B would seem to be a sensible option......