Air Power Series>1:32 die-cast display model>F6F>HA0303

General Background

The F6F Hellcat was basically designed as the "Zero Killer". It could fly about an average 55 mph faster than the Zero and it was heavier and more powerful than the Zero. The Hellcat also had the highest kill ratio of any American fighter plane during WWII (19 to1). US Navy pilots referred the Hellcat as the "Aluminum Tank".

The Aircraft

In 1944 Grumman Hellcat F6F-3 "White 17" belonged to VF-27's Lt. Richard "Dick" Stambook on board the USS Princeton. Before VF-27; Stambook served with VS-3 flying a Dauntless, VF-3 and VF-6 piloting Wildcats. His best day was June 19, 1944, while flying "White 17" Dick brought down 3 Japanese aircraft. On October 18, 1944 Stambook scored his tenth and final victory, a Kawasaki Ki-45 Nick. Six days later Stambook was lucky to be alive when the USS Princeton was destroyed and he had to swim to safety.

Specifications :

Total production :	F6F-3 (4,403), F6F-5 (7,870)
Powerplant :	Single 2,000-horsepower 18-cylinder, Pratt and Whitney R-2800-10W air cooled radial engine
Climb rate to 14,000 ft. :	6 minutes 42 seconds
Armament :	six .50-caliber M2 Browning machine guns a 2,000 lb. bomb load, or six 5-inch rockets
Wingspan :	42 ft. 10 in. (13.1 m)
Length :	33 ft., 7 in. (10.2 m)
Height :	13 ft., 1 in. (4.0 m)
Weight :	9,238 lb. empty
Maximum speed :	380 mph at 23,400 ft.
Ceiling :	37,300 ft.
Range :	945 miles