I absolutely loved the C-1 as a COD (which the E1B was derived from?) and have always thought “If I could have a recreational plane to fly me and my family and friends around the country...I would love a COD.
If you look at my Freep Page, you can see I was a jet mechanic, and how I loved the sound of those reciprocating engines. The first time I saw a COD take off (1976) from a carrier, it made an impression on me.
As it ran up its engines, the plane almost seemed to crouch and gather itself...almost compressing like a spring, it seemed to me. Then when it released its brakes, it would go forth, and my thought was “Huh. There’s no way that thing is getting in the air!” but it seemed before it even came level with the island, it was already in the air.
They just looked like a wonderful plane to fly...and cool looking to me, too.
As for being the most fun a mortal can have with clothes on...I used to watch the pilots walking down the passageway from the flight deck after landing, and seeing their armpits, backs (and it seemed, crotch) stained slightly darker with sweat, and I thought “Hm...that must be hairy flying!”
I was Hangar Deck Officer in USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) FRom July, 1970 until December, 1972. Naturally, I flew the COD as often as I could! Some of our trips to Thailand FRom the Gulf of Tonkin were VERY memorable!
As for the C-1 being a nifty people carrier, well, you’d best bring a lot of money to the table! The USN was not particularly concerned with fuel/maintenance costs, etc., and they were/are well beyond the means of an ordinary person. HST, there are a couple of C-1s in private hands.
BTW, the Willy Fudd and the C-1 (”Trader”) were developed FRom the Grumman Iron Works S-2 series.
Deck launches are usually “high pucker factor” events for the pilots (and much more comfortable for the pax and crew than a cat shot!) because, typically, unless there is a LOT of wind over the deck, one arrives at the deck edge right at minimum single engine flying speed. Which means, if an engine quits right at that moment, the pilots will be QUITE busy for a while!
HST, the airplane was eminently flyable on one engine — it was much, much better than a Willy Fudd with an engine shut down!
I’ll not deny that ALL carrier “work” is “high pucker factor.” But for me, it was great fun! I enjoyed every CVL I managed to get (I was known as a “Bagger”)! And I always wanted just one more!