Air Power Series>1:32 die-cast display model>F6F>HA0307

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

From March 18 – 21 1945 Grumman F6F-5 Hellcats of VF-17 “Jolly Rogers” were aboard the USS Hornet. On March 19, 1945 VF-17 Hellcats encountered and destroyed twenty Japanese Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden-kai (George) with the loss of six Hellcats. During March and April of 1945 VF-17 downed a total of 146 aircraft and was involved in supporting attacks on Iwo Jima, Okinawa and the Battleship Yamato. Fifteen VF-17 pilots became Aces, more than in any other Pacific fighter unit.

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