Edinburgh locals awestruck after spotting iconic US navy aircraft land at airport

Cara Blackhall
·2-min read
-Credit: (Image: AJ Photography)
-Credit: (Image: AJ Photography)


Locals were shocked to spot an iconic US navy aircraft land at Edinburgh airport on Tuesday evening.

The C-2A Greyhound was captured on camera around 10pm and parked up in the capital after reportedly being diverted from Prestwick due to fog.

Images were taken of the aircraft in the dark by many who were awestruck at the sight. According to Flightradar, the C-2A left Trondheim in Norway and was set to land at Prestwick airport around 12.15am.

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According to the US Navy website, the aircraft can transport cargo between ship and shore in a matter of hours. It's a high-wing cargo vehicle designed to carry supplies, passengers and mail to and from aircraft carriers of the United States Navy.

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A description on America's Navy reads: "The C-2 fleet provides rapid airborne logistics capability to the carrier strike force across a full range of sea basing military operations. Avionics system improvements, an aircraft electrical rewire and structural enhancements provide the fleet with an economically viable C-2 platform for the duration of its service.

"The C-2A Greyhound replaced the piston-engine powered C-1 Trader in the Carrier On-board Delivery role. The first of two prototypes flew in 1964 and production began the following year. The original C-2A aircraft were overhauled to extend their operational life in 1973.

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"In 1984, a contract was awarded for 39 new C-2A aircraft to replace the earlier airframes. Dubbed the Reprocured C-2A due to the similarity to the original aircraft, the new C-2A includes substantial airframe and avionic systems improvements. All the older C-2As were phased out in 1987, and the last of the new models was delivered in 1990."

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