Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F6F>HA1110

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 Hellcat could carry two 1,000 pound bombs with its most destructive weapons being six 5-inch HVAR's (High Velocity Aircraft Rockets). It could also carry a torpedo under the fuselage but this was never seen in combat. When it was all over the F6F was one of the most feared and successful planes in WWII.

The Aircraft

The Jolly Rogers began during World War II as Fighter Squadron 17 (VF-17) on January 1, 1943. The squadron was one of the first Navy squadrons to fly the Vought F4U Corsair fighter. Because their plane was called Corsair, VF-17's men wanted a squadron name that would correspond with that pirate theme. On March 18, 1945 over Kanoya and April 16, 1945 near Okinawa the Jolly Rogers scored 31 victories each day. VF-17 managed to score a total of 161 victories and made 12 aces while flying the Hellcat.

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
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
Armament :	six .50-caliber M2 Browning machine guns
	a 2,000 lb. bomb load, or six 5-inch rockets