Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F6F>HA1117

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

There actually two Grumman F6F-5 "White 99"s with similar markings both belonged to T. High Winters. Winters was the original leader of VF-19 on USS Lexington and in September 1944 was promoted to Commander Air Group 19 and used the callsign "99 Mohawk". The CAGs aircraft were inappropriately referred to as Hangar Lilies (always parked on the hangar deck) with the first one damaged by flak and pushed over board. On the second F6F-5 along with 8 victory markings; there was a flower painted forward of the windscreen.

Specifications :

Engine:	2000hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10W Double Wasp 18-cylinder radial piston engine
Weight:
Empty:	9150 lbs.
Max Takeoff :	15,410 lbs.
Dimensions:
Wing Span:	42ft. 10in.
Length :	33ft. 7in.
Height:	13ft. 6in.
Performance:	Maximum Speed at 23,500 ft - 380mph
	Cruising Speed at 6,000 ft - 168mph
Ceiling:	37,300 ft
Range:	1,530 miles with 150-gallon drop tank
Armament :	6 X 12.7mm (0.5 inch) wing-mounted machine guns
	2 X 1,000-lb bombs, or six 127mm (5-inch) rockets