The Monster COD thread (homage to the C-2A Greyhound)

[kmac]

Bunk was my leader.

Concur on the having to work even while flying straight and level. The constant vibration and lack of a working AFCS was really a pain in the butt. I'm just glad we didn't have long legs like the P-3 bubbas around... that would be impossible to do.

 

[HeyJoe]

Overhead of COD

CVW-3 Flyover from above including the C-2 Greyhound..wonder where the JV Master Race guys were?

080401-N-7883G-017 PACIFIC OCEAN (April 1, 2008) Aircraft assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 fly over the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). Kitty Hawk and the embarked CVW-5 squadrons deployed in early March and will undergo several training evolutions over the next month. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kyle D. Gahlau (Released)

 

[usmarinemike]

heyjoe is like the guy with all the pictures of his kids in his wallet that pulls them out at every chance he can get. The only difference is that we all actually WANT to see his pictures. Rep.

 

[HeyJoe]

heyjoe is like the guy with all the pictures of his kids in his wallet that pulls them out at every chance he can get. The only difference is that we all actually WANT to see his pictures. Rep.

LOL. For the record, although I have taken a lot of images and still do, I also post work of others I find interesting and think forum will as well. Many of those are out there for anyone to discover and post like this one. All the services are doing a great job pushing digital images from the field to DC where they publish them daily. I pursue them in my day job and grab ones I need for work and those that I think will work for the forum.

 

[Njc242]

Thanks guys, so is there talk for upgrading or a replacement?

 

[Uncle Fester]

The C-2B...but it's so far down anyone's list of funding priorities (except the COD community), I personally am pretty sure we'll be driving flying cars before anyone sees a C-2B.

 

[HooverPilot]

I've got about 1800hrs in the C-2A(R) and IMO, it's a big, flying piece of shit. The shore based life is what makes it bearable. Even flying straight and level takes work in the C-2A. It's a tough plane though. Unfortunetly, the leadership in the community is very weak as well though that might be a Navy wide issue.

I've got to say I have a different opinion than Bunk does. I'm not saying that he's wrong, I just have had a different experience in the community. I came to the COD Community after being a Viking pilot for almost 5 years. I'm now leaving on my 3rd COD deployment and have nearly 900 hours in the C-2. I still love it.

I could care less if the AFCS doesn't work in the plane, I am a pilot and I love to fly. Even straight and level. I would rather hand fly the 3.5 both ways on the OEF hits than latch up george. The AFCS didn't work in the Viking either (until the DFDC upgrade).

Leadership in the C-2 Community has been getting stronger than it traditionally has been. I would explain weak leadership in the past with the lack of C-2 guys being CO's, they were all from other communities. This was for several reasons, but the main one was the community didn't have a warfare designator for a long time and that created a glass ceiling @ the O-3 to O-4 transition. We've now had the first group of natural COD CO's. One of them is now going to be the FRS CO. Many thought a COD guy would NEVER be the E-2/C-2 FRS CO.

COD missions set is expanding. Para & Cargo drops has been turned back on and all involved communities want to make the most of the opportunity.

It is now official that we will have a C-2B. The timeline is still unknown, but it's early in the procurement cycle. Meanwhile, new upgrades are coming each year for the C-2A. 8 Blade props have been tested and the CNS/ATM is funded too (glass cockpit).

I could go on for even longer about the responsibilities shouldered by the JO's of a COD squadron compared to those of other communities, but I think the point has been made, I love my job.

Oh, and the COD lifestyle rocks too...

 

[MasterBates]

Hoov sums up why I want "in"..

 

[mb1k]

I can see where the people would see it as inefficient, and certainly there is an element of that, but you have to remember that many (if not, unfortunately, all) of these procedures were implemented in the name of spending money wisely, and were introduced as a result of hard lessons learned (A-12 and Commanche are easy examples).

And sometimes the POM monies and rules work against the very common sense they were created to instill. Case in point, we found out it was actually going to be cheaper to build brand new zero time SH-60Rs than to take the old Blk IIs and remanufacture them. But the money was earmarked for reman, and couldn't be spent on "new". So instead we strike 2 airframes that didn't successfully survive the reman process and take delivery on lessons learned helos that didn't quite measure up until they finally were able to get "whoever" to understand how dire the situation was and open up the Sikorsky line again...:icon_rage

 

[MasterBates]

Lamps making you angry even though you are far away!

Classic.

 

[mb1k]

I almost want to start a poll:

Where would you rather be sitting?
A) In the cockpit of the U2
B) Driving the 'Stang

I know, I know. Holy thread resurrection.

To answer your question, rather be in the U-2. And yes, it's another "fellow" U-2 pilot who's on the rotation to drive the "mobile". Huggy would know the most about this question.

I had a chance to spend a week with the U-2 guys back when we were stationed in PSAB. I was really impressed with they caliber of people from the maintainers all the way up to the DETCO (OIC). I immediately felt like I wanted to be a part of that mission, and the way they operated was enviable to my Rivet Joint traveling circus.

Got a few mobile rides, and the reason I'd rather be in the U-2 is when the U-2 crosses the threshold the mobile driver floors the accelerator and tucks in right behind it. The windscreen was literally about 20 feet from the tailpipe of the U-2 (is that about right Huggy?). I swear I could see the exhaust heat blistering the paint off the hood and I think my eyebrows got burned off. It was that hot. But waay crazy fun too. I never took my eyes off the jet to see what the ground speed in the car was.

I did get my question answered about how they land without outriggers though. The answer is that it's a non-issue. The ground speed is almost virtually nil by the time the wing loses authority and drops. I swear it's about as fast as you could walk when it gently tips to the ground. Never saw a tip drag more than 2 to 3 feet (again, Huggy can chime in).

Found out they were so nice because they were trying to rush me to join. I should of put in a package right there and then, but my CO guilted me into staying another 2 years before putting my package in. Then I went to staff for career broadening and never got around to putting my package in till 5 years later. By then I was passed over and got officailly turned down for the interview for being "too senior". I think that was a polite way to say they didn't want any passed over guys... I'm not dumb.

 

[mb1k]

Oh, and the COD lifestyle rocks too...

Oh... you mean it's like the Air Force. But without the gay scarves right?

 

[HH-60H]

This was for several reasons, but the main one was the community didn't have a warfare designator for a long time and that created a glass ceiling @ the O-3 to O-4 transition.

Can you explain this? They all had wings right?

 

[MasterBates]

Best way I can explain is that COD used to be a disassociated tour job, instead of a career path. The COs back then were like VT or VC COs, (not necessarily having any experience in the platform/mission) vice a normal fleet CO who flew the aircraft or its predecessor as a JO/DH.

 

[Flash]

Can you explain this? They all had wings right?

VXE LC-130 and VR C-130 Navigators (and I think pilots too) did not get a warfare designation either, they had to go to another community after their initial tours to get one. They often did two years at VR/VXE then went straight to VQ or VP, we had some in EP-3's (pilots and NFO's). More often than not, they were the squadron drunks for some strange reason.