US Navy C-2A Greyhound makes final carrier landing, ending 60-year service era

Published Jul 23, 04:36 PM UTC

The U.S. Navy's C-2A Greyhound, a 60-year-old carrier onboard delivery aircraft, made its final carrier landing at the end of June 2026, marking the end of its mission as the Navy's only dedicated carrier delivery passenger plane. The aircraft, known for its unique role transporting VIPs, cargo, and up to 28 passengers to and from aircraft carriers, will be replaced by the CMV-22 Osprey. The last active C-2 squadron, VRC-40 based in Norfolk, Virginia, held a sundown ceremony on July 23, 2026, and the final flight will transit the aircraft to the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida. Pilots described the C-2 as a 'dinosaur' due to its lack of modern computers and manual flight controls, but praised its unique culture and the challenging, independent missions flown by small detachments. The article includes recollections of a tense 2022 flight from San Diego to Japan requiring precise fuel management, with Russia as the only emergency diversion option.