Time Period: World War II
Country of Origin: United States
Type: Fighter Aircraft
Manufacturer: Grumman
Grumman F6F Hellcat Aircraft Overview
The Grumman F6F Hellcat was a carrier-based fighter aircraft that was used by the United States Navy and Marine Corps during World War II. It was designed and produced by Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation as a successor to the earlier F4F Wildcat.
The F6F Hellcat was a single-engine, single-seat fighter, and was known for its impressive speed, range, and firepower. It had a top speed of around 380 mph (610 km/h), and was armed with six .50-caliber machine guns and various combinations of rockets, bombs, and auxiliary fuel tanks.
The Hellcat played a crucial role in several major naval battles, including the Battle of the Philippine Sea and the Battle of Leyte Gulf, where it proved to be a formidable opponent against the Japanese Zero. In fact, the Hellcat had a remarkable kill-to-loss ratio of 19:1, making it one of the most successful fighter aircraft of the war.
Overall, the Grumman F6F Hellcat was a highly effective fighter aircraft that helped to secure air superiority for the United States in the Pacific theater of World War II.
Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat Specifications
- Crew: 1
- Length: 33 ft 7 in (10.24 m)
- Wingspan: 42 ft 10 in (13.06 m)
- Height: 13 ft 1 in (3.99 m)
- Wing area: 334 sq ft (31.0 m2)
- Aspect ratio: 5.5
- Airfoil: root: NACA 23015.6; tip: NACA 23009
- Empty weight: 9,238 lb (4,190 kg)
- Gross weight: 12,598 lb (5,714 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 15,415 lb (6,992 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 250 US gal (208 imp gal; 946 l) internal; up to 3 × 150 US gal (125 imp gal; 568 l) external drop tanks
- Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0211
- Drag area: 7.05 sq ft (0.655 m2)
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10W Double Wasp 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 2,200 hp (1,600 kW) with a two-speed two-stage supercharger and water injection
- Propellers: 3-bladed Hamilton Standard, 13 ft 1 in (3.99 m) diameter constant-speed propeller.
Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat Performance
- Maximum speed: 391 mph (629 km/h, 340 kn)
- Stall speed: 84 mph (135 km/h, 73 kn)
- Combat range: 945 mi (1,521 km, 821 nmi)
- Ferry range: 1,530 mi (2,460 km, 1,330 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 37,300 ft (11,400 m)
- Rate of climb: 2,600 ft/min (13 m/s)
- Time to altitude: 20,000 ft (6,096 m) in 7 minutes 42 seconds
- Lift-to-drag: 12.2
- Wing loading: 37.7 lb/sq ft (184 kg/m2)
- Power/mass: 0.16 hp/lb (0.26 kW/kg)
- Take-off run: 799 ft (244 m)
Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat Armament
- Guns:
- 6 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns, with 400 rounds per gun, (All F6F-3, and most F6F-5) or
- 2 × 0.79 in (20 mm) AN/M2 cannon, with 225 rounds per gun and 4 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) Browning machine guns with 400 rounds per gun
- Rockets:
- 6 × 5 in (127 mm) HVARs or
- 2 × 11.75 in (298 mm) Tiny Tim unguided rockets
- Bombs: up to 4,000 lb (1,800 kg) full load, including:
- Centerline rack:
- 1 × 2,000 lb (910 kg) bomb or
- 1 × Mk.13-3 torpedo;
- Underwing bombs: (F6F-5 had two additional weapons racks either side of fuselage on wing center-section)
- 2 × 1,000 lb (450 kg), 500 lb (230 kg), 250 lb (110 kg), or
- 6 × 100 lb (45 kg) (Mk.3 Bomb Cluster)
- Centerline rack:
Famous Pilots of the Grumman F6F Hellcat During WW2
There are many pilots who flew the Grumman F6F Hellcat with great skill and courage, contributing to its reputation as one of the most successful fighter aircraft of World War II.
Some of the ones who flew the Hellcat during World War II include:
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Lt. Alexander Vraciu: A US Navy pilot who shot down 19 enemy aircraft during his service in the Pacific theater.
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Capt. David McCampbell: A US Navy pilot who is credited with shooting down 34 enemy aircraft during his service in the Pacific theater. He is the US Navy’s top-scoring ace of all time.
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Lt. Edward “Butch” O’Hare: A US Navy pilot who became the Navy’s first flying ace of World War II, credited with shooting down five enemy aircraft in a single mission. He was also awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during a mission in 1942.
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Lt. Commander John Thach: A US Navy pilot who developed the “Thach Weave,” a tactical maneuver used to counter the Japanese Zero fighter. He is credited with shooting down six enemy aircraft during his service in the Pacific theater.
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Lt. Commander Hamilton McWhorter III: A US Navy pilot who shot down eight enemy aircraft during his service in the Pacific theater.
Grumman F6F Hellcat Image Gallery
Learn More About the Grumman F6F Hellcat
Do you want to learn more about the Grumman F6F Hellcat? Below you will find books, kit builds, reference guides, photography collections, and gift ideas for enthusiasts of this fantastic aircraft.
This book runs through building the hellcat kit it focuses on the scales 1.72 and 1.48. It does not cover engine details.
A reference book about the Grumman F6F Hellcat containing many excellent reference photos and texts.
F6F Hellcat is the tenth volume of the expanded Detail & Scale Series of military aviation and modeling books.
This kit by Hobby Boss includes engraved panel lines, a cockpit, a radial engine, and optional extended or folded wings.
The fuselage of this airplane model is made of engineering plastic, and the base and some parts are made of metal.
Originally created by the U.S. Navy, this flight manual taught pilots everything they needed to know before entering the cockpit.
