Agreed. I have always thought it was a great plane, though I have a soft spot for the old Grumman C1A COD!
I remember seeing those take off...they would be on the fantail, and when the engines revved up, the plane seemed to crouch or squat, almost like it was gathering itself to hurl itself into the air...how I loved them.
And I loved seeing them arrive...Mail!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sigh, nowadays, I guess they don’t have that feeling...everything is probably email or something.
I loved mail. I wrote a lot, and got a lot...and I loved seeing them unload those sacks!
Once upon a time I was a C-1A COD Aircraft Commander (Pilot). Many hours and traps in WESTPAC’s VRC-50 based Cubi Point Philippines. Trained for and also flew C-2 on occasion. C-1A was a wonderful little transport plane. In the 1975-78 time frame it was an expendable back up for Charlie Tuna. Meaning, we regularly flew training / proficiency flights all over the Western Rim of the Pacific Ocean. Chasing down USS Midway, Enterprise, Ranger, Oriskany, Hancock, Kitty Hawk at sea. Daytime overheads, land off load, reload and cat launch or deck run home. That was Subic City, Taipei, Atsugi, ETC. Good duty.
USN plans to replace the C-2A with the Osprey. Good luck with that. No cure for stupid.