US Navy C-2A Greyhound makes final carrier landing after 60 years of service

Published Jul 23, 04:36 PM UTC

The U.S. Navy's C-2A Greyhound, a 60-year-old twin-turboprop carrier onboard delivery aircraft, made its final carrier landing at the end of June 2026, ending its mission as the Navy's only dedicated carrier delivery passenger plane. The aircraft, known for its rugged manual controls and small pilot community, will be replaced by the CMV-22 Osprey tiltrotor. The last active squadron, VRC-40 based in Norfolk, Virginia, held a sundown ceremony on July 23, 2026. The final flight will transport the aircraft to the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida. Pilots described the Greyhound as a 'dinosaur' that required manual flying without computers, and noted the unique culture of small, independent detachments operating overseas. The plane could carry up to 28 passengers and was used to transport VIPs, journalists, and cargo, with notable missions including a tense 2022 flight from San Diego to Japan requiring precise fuel management.