Air Power Series>1:48 die-cast display model>F4F>HA8906

General Background

Early in the Pacific War in WWII the Grumman F4F Wildcat was the best fighter aircraft the U.S. had but was out performed by the Japanese Zero. The Wildcat’s folding wings allowed for a greater number of aircraft that could be carried but added extra weight and reduced the aircraft performance. New features such as self-sealing fuel tanks, heavy armor made up for the Wildcat’s lesser performance. By the end of WWII the F4F had flown approximately 15,500 sorties with a kill ratio of 6.9 victories to 1.

The Aircraft

Warrant Officer Machinist Donald Runyon became the USN’s highest scoring F4F pilot when he scored eight victories during three sorties in August 1942. On August 7th during the invasion of Guadalcanal Runyon shot down two Val dive bombers and on the 8th a Zero and a Betty bomber. On the 24th during the Battle of the Eastern Solomons he shot down three Vals and a Zero. In 1943 Runyon returned to combat as a commissioned officer flying a Hellcat and scored three more victories with VF-18.

Specifications :

Total Aircraft Manufactured:	7,860
British Name:	Martlet
Role:	American Carrier-based Fighter
Crew:	1 pilot
Performance
Powerplant:	1 X Pratt & Whitney R-1830-86 Double-Row Radial Engine, 1,200 hp (900 kW)
Maximum Speed:	320 mph (290 kn / 515 km/h)
Service Ceiling:	34,000 ft (10,363 m)
Rate of Climb:	2,200 ft/min (11.17 m/s) Normal Power
Range:	830 miles (721 nmi / 1,337 km)
Dimensions
Length:	28 ft 9 in (8.8 m)
Wingspan:	38 ft (11.6 m)
Height:	9 ft 2.5 in (2.8 m)
Weights:
Empty:	5,895 lb (2,674 kg)
Loaded:	7,975 lb (3,617 kg)
Maximum Takeoff:	8,762 lb (3,974 kg)
Armament:
Guns:	6 X .050 in (12.7 mm) AN/M2 Browning Machine Guns