The 'C-1 Trader' was a Carrier-Onboard-Delivery (COD) variant of the
S-2 Tracker. It was replaced by a similar version of the
E-2 Hawkeye, the
C-2 Greyhound.
Design and development
The C-1 Trader grew out of a need by the
US Navy for a new
anti submarine airplane. In response to this
Grumman started development on a prototype twin-engine, high-wing aircraft which it designated the G-89.
Operational history
In 1952 the
US Navy typed this aircraft the 'XS2F-1' and flew it for the first time on December 4th of that year. During the rest of the
1950's 3 major variants emerged, the C-1 Trader being one of them. The C-1 (originally the 'TF-1') was outfitted to carry nine passengers or 3500 pounds of cargo and first flew in January 1955. Through out the
1960's and
1970's the C-1 Trader carried mail and supplies to
aircraft carriers on station in the Pacific Ocean during the
Vietnam War and also served as a trainer for all weather carrier operations. Over its production life 83 C-1 ''Traders'' were built plus four EC-1A ''Tracers'' which were converted into electronic
countermeasure aircraft. The last C-1 was retired from US Navy service in 1988 though approximately ten are still operated as vintage war birds.
Variants
;TF-1
:Carrier Onboard Delivery version of the
S2F Tracker with enlarged fuselage for 9 passengers, redesignated C-1A in 1962, 87 built.
;TF-1Q
:Electronic Countermeasures conversion of the TF-1, redesignated EC-1A in 1962, four conversions.
;TF-1W
:Airborne Early Warning project that was developed in the
WF-2 Tracer.
;C-1A
:TF-1 redesignated in 1962.
;EC-1A
:TF-1Q redesignated in 1962.
Operators
;
★
United States Navy
Specifications
References
External links
Related content