C-1A Trader
1. - Development
The C-1 Trader grew out of a need by the United States Navy for a new anti submarine airplane. In response to this Grumman began development on a prototype twin-engine, high-wing aircraft which it designated the G-89.
In the late 1940s, the US Navy decided it needed a new aircraft for its anti-submarine missions. Previously, the task had been accomplished by teams of two airplanes, one performing the "hunter" role with its radar, and the other acting as the torpedo-equipped "killer." Logistical problems and advancing technology soon negated the advantages of these two-aircraft attacks, and a single aircraft became the ideal. Grumman responded to this need with a twin-engine, high-wing prototype called the G-89. It featured a large payload capacity for sensors and weapons, a retractable search radar, a magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) boom, searchlights, and other much-needed features. Folding wings and a tailhook made it aircraft-carrier capable.
The prototype aircraft first flew on 4 December 1952, under the US Navy designation XS2F-1. Three major variants appeared almost immediately, and their designations were finalized in 1962 as the S-2 Tracker, the E-1 Tracer, and the C-1 Trader. The S-2A, the first production version of the Tracker, entered anti-submarine service in February 154, and more than 500 were delivered to the US Navy and several other nations. Several of these were delivered as trainers and were called TS-2As.
Other variants included the S-2C (enlarged weapons-bay, larger tail to compensate for higher gross weight); US-2A/B/C (S-2s converted for utility use such as target towing and light transport); RS-2C (photo-reconnaissance); S-2D (increased wing span, larger tail, four-man crew in widened / lengthened fuselage, larger sonobouy payload); S-2E (modified with more advanced search equipment); S-2F (S-2Bs modified with this same equipment); CS-2F/CP-121 (deHavilland-built Trackers for the Royal Canadian Navy); and S-2G (the final advanced version of the Tracker, which served into the 1970s.)
The C-1 Trader, meanwhile, was delivered as a nine-seat transport for use as a Carrier On-board Delivery (COD) aircraft, and the E-1 (WF-2) Tracer was equipped with a large overhead radome containing a powerful APS-82 early-warning search radar. Even after the design was replaced in the US Navy by the jet-powered S-3 Viking, it lives on in several reincarnations. Taiwan purchased at least 32 S-2T Turbo Trackers, which are Grumman-modified S-2s powered by Garrett TPE-331 turboprop engines. Also, the S-2 has become a popular airplane for use as a firefighting water bomber, in the US and elsewhere.
Finally, several S-2s and C-1s are privately owned and flown as warbirds. They are well-loved for their toughness, reliability, and huge load-hauling capability. (What better way to attend an airshow or fly-in than by taking along six or eight friends and all the supplies you'd ever need?)
Edit2. - Serial #'s
C-1A Trader SerialsEdit3. - Operational History
In 1952 the United States 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 1950s 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 1960s and 1970s 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.
Edit4. - 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.
Edit5. - Technical Specifications
EditGeneral characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 42.2 ft (12.9 m)
Wingspan: 69.6 ft (21.2 m)
Height: 16.3 ft (4.9 m)
Empty weight: 18,750 lbs (8,504 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 29,150 lbs (13,222 kg)
Powerplant: 2× Wright R-1820-82WA Cyclone 9-cylinder radial piston engine, 1,525 hp (1,137 kW) each
EditPerformance
Maximum speed: 287 mph (462 km/h)
Range: 1,300 miles (2,092 km)
Edit6. - Operators
Edit7. - Currently Flying
C-1A Trader - Serial - BuNo 136778Edit8. - Links
Edit9. - Markings
Edit10. - References
http://www.warbirdalley.com/c1.htm