F6F Hellcat
Grumman · United States · first flew 1942 · fighter
The Grumman F6F Hellcat was a rugged American carrier fighter that became the dominant US Navy fighter of the Pacific war, credited with thousands of victories.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Barrel-shaped fuselage with a big radial and four-blade prop |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Barrel-shaped fuselage with a big radial and four-blade prop
- Low-mounted tapered wings set well forward of the cockpit
- Rugged carrier fighter with a slightly downward-angled wing
Look for the deep, barrel-like fuselage and a big radial with a four-blade propeller. The low tapered wings sit well forward and angle slightly downward from the roots. The squared-off rudder and sturdy stance mark out the carrier fighter.
Specifications
- The F6F Hellcat has a length of 10.24 m (34 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.06 m (43 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 612 km/h (380 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed to outclass the Japanese Zero and first flown in 1942, the Hellcat reached the fleet in 1943 and quickly turned the air war. Powered by the same Pratt & Whitney R-2800 as the Corsair, it was built in vast numbers in record time. Its strength and forgiving handling made it a war-winning machine.
Variants
The F6F-3 was the first major production version, followed by the more powerful F6F-5. Night-fighter radar variants carried a wing-mounted pod. The Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm operated the type under the name Hellcat.
Where you'll see it
The Fleet Air Arm flew Hellcats in European and Pacific waters, a connection preserved at the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton. Airworthy aircraft are mostly US-based but occasionally cross to UK displays such as Flying Legends. Static examples can be seen in British naval aviation collections. The Fighter Collection's F6F-5 flies from Duxford.
Related aircraft
- Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat
- Grumman F7F Tigercat
- Grumman XP-50
- Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat
- Aichi E16A Zuiun
- Bell P-59 Airacomet
- Bell P-63 Kingcobra
- Bereznyak-Isayev BI-1
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