Grumman C-2 Greyhound

The Grumman C-2 Greyhound is a twin-engine, high-wing cargo aircraft. Developed from the E-2 Hawkeye airframe, the Greyhound has been the Navy's primary carrier onboard delivery (COD) aircraft since the 1960s, transporting personnel, mail, supplies, and critical cargo between shore bases and aircraft carriers at sea.

The C-2A Greyhound entered service in 1966 and underwent a major production restart with improved models in the 1980s. It features two Allison T56-A-425 turboprop engines, has a maximum speed of approximately 350 knots (400 mph), and a range of over 1,000 nautical miles with a 10,000-pound payload. The aircraft can carry up to 26 passengers or 10,000 pounds of cargo and is typically operated by a crew of three: pilot, co-pilot, and crew chief/loadmaster. The Greyhound carries no armament as its mission is strictly logistics and transport.

The Greyhound has been crucial to the Navy's logistics pipeline throughout its service. These aircraft conduct multiple daily flights delivering everything from critical aircraft parts and medical supplies to mail and distinguished visitors. The C-2's rear loading ramp and cargo door configuration allow it to transport large, outsized cargo, including aircraft engines.

The C-2 Greyhound is gradually being replaced by the CMV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, marking the end of over five decades of dedicated service. The plane maintained an impressive safety record throughout its operational history, with crews often describing the unusual but memorable experience of its "trap" (arrested landing) on carriers as among the most intense eight seconds in naval aviation.