Grumman C-1A Trader

History

The Navy’s need for an advanced carrier based aircraft to haul its new, enormous and highly powerful Hazeltine AN/APS-82 search radar into the skies. To replace its aging AD-5W Douglas Skyraider was formalized when the Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer) issued requirements for a design competition in 1955 that was to take place the following year.

One step ahead of BuAer was Grumman, who had just begun to rehabilitate its own long dormant radar plane proposal - Company Design Number 95. Design No. 95, had been initiated in June 1951, featured the proposed XS2F Tracker ASW aircraft with an AN/APS-20A search radar as used with the AD-W series of Skyraider "Guppies". Mounted inverted above the cockpit to insure clearance for the upward folding wings plus small tail fins on the horizontal stabilizer as in the earlier AF-2W Guardian. Designated as the XWF-1, the concept only reached the wind tunnel and mock-up stages before cancellation in early 1953 in favor of cost cutting and funding of other projects.

Grumman began work on its Design Number 117 during late 1955. The spring of 1956 the S2F-1 was abandoned as the primary airframe resource and was replaced by the more roomy TF-1 Trader Carrier-Onboard-Delivery or "COD" aircraft that was just going into service with the Fleet. In place of the single vertical fin and rudder. Completely new twin fins and rudders were applied to a modified horizontal stabilizer; the bobbed center tail would also support the rear fairing of the huge radar dome that now measured a whopping 20 by 30 feet.

In order to prove the theoretical and wind tunnel test results of Design 117. A full size test ship was required; so, after completion TF-1 BUNO 136792 was pulled from the Navy Acceptance and Transfer line at Bethpage, New Jersey and was retained for the Flight Test Division. Thus was born the "Two Tailed COD". Trader No. 792 thus became the aerodynamic prototype and grandpappy for the highly successful production aircraft, the WF-2 Tracer, a.k.a. "Stoof with a Roof"; or the more endearing "Willy Fudd". Because of its twelve-year tenure at Grumman as a test machine, the Two Tailed COD proved that large, over the fuselage radar enclosures could both be practically flown and operationally deployed. This knowledge led directly to the design, production and operational deployment of the E-2 Hawkeye and the E-3 Sentry - today’s AWACS.

When the aircraft’s duties as "grandpappy of all AWACS" was completed. The aluminum dummy radome was removed and the two tailed COD was transferred to the Overhaul and Repair Department (O&R) of the Quonset Point Naval Air Station on September 11, 1969. The two tailed COD was no stranger to Quonset. The aircraft had been a frequent visitor to the Air Station, which also had the distinction of being the homeport for the Navy’s first WF-2 Tracer squadron, VAW-12 (Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron Twelve in Seaplane Hangar Two beginning on January 20, 1960. After Quonset O&R completed her conversion into semi-normal, (she still had her one of a kind twin tails), COD aircraft was assigned duty as the Station Bird for NAS Quonset Point on April 8, 1970. The aircraft performed numerous duties as a utility aircraft as well as being the pampered and preferred Captain’s Gig until April 5, 1974, when the Air Station was deactivated. The Two Tailed COD, C-1A BUNO 136792, again entered the history books on April 3, 1974. The aircraft made the last official Navy flight from NAS Quonset Point with the seventeenth and last Skipper, Captain Edward J. "SunGod" Klapka, at the controls.

When assigned to Quonset Point Naval Air Station, "792" had 2260 flight hours on her. While attached to Quonset, she accumulated another 2484 flight hours and 724 landings. After further service at East Coast Naval Air Stations, "792" was retired at NAES Lakehurst, New Jersey on February 3, 1983.

Specifications

Length:    45' 4"
Height:     16' 10"
Wingspan: 72' 7"
Empty Weight: 20,638lb
Gross Weight:  26,600lb 

Propulsion

Engines: Wright R-1820-82WA
Horsepower:  2 @ 1525 each

Performance

RANGE: 1,000 miles
Cruise Speed: 163 mph
Max Speed:    227 mph
Climb:    1,120ft/min
Ceiling: 15,800 ft

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