The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II.
Variants
XF6F prototypes
XF6F-1
First prototype, powered by a two-stage 1,600 hp (1,193 kW) Wright R-2600-10 Cyclone 14 radial piston engine.
XF6F-2
The first XF6F-1 prototype revised and fitted with a turbocharged Wright R-2600-16 Cyclone radial piston engine. R-2600 replaced by turbocharged R-2800-21.
XF6F-3
Second prototype fitted with a two-stage supercharged 2,000 hp (1,491 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10 Double Wasp radial piston engine.
XF6F-4
One F6F-3 fitted with a two-speed turbocharged 2,100 hp (1,566 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-2800-27 Double Wasp radial piston engine.
XF6F-6
Two F6F-5s that were fitted with the 2,100 hp (1,566 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-2800-18W radial piston engine, and four-bladed propellers.
Series production
F6F-3
(British designation Gannet F. Mk. I, and then later, renamed Hellcat F. Mk. I, January 1944)
Single-seat fighter, fighter-bomber aircraft, powered by a 2,000 hp (1,491 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10 Double Wasp radial piston engine.
F6F-3E
Night fighter version, equipped with an AN/APS-4 radar in a fairing on the starboard outer wing.
F6F-3N
Another night fighter version, equipped with a newer AN/APS-6 radar in a fairing on the starboard outer wing.
F6F-5 Hellcat (British Hellcat F. Mk. II)
Improved version, with a redesigned engine cowling, a new windscreen structure with an integral bulletproof windscreen, new ailerons and strengthened tail surfaces; powered by a 2,200 hp (1,641 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10W (-W denotes Water Injection) radial piston engine.
F6F-5K Hellcat
A number of F6F-5s and F6F-5Ns were converted into radio-controlled target drones.
F6F-5N Hellcat (British Hellcat N.F. Mk II)
Night fighter version, fitted with an AN/APS-6 radar.
Some were armed with two 20 mm (0.79 in) AN/M2 cannon in the inner wing bays and four 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns in the outer.
F6F-5P Hellcat
Small numbers of F6F-5s were converted into photo-reconnaissance aircraft, with the camera equipment being fitted in the rear fuselage.
Hellcat FR. Mk. II
This designation was given to British Hellcats fitted with camera equipment.
FV-1
Proposed designation for Hellcats to be built by Canadian Vickers; cancelled before any built.
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 take-off 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
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)
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+3⁄4 in (298 mm) Tiny Tim unguided rockets
Bombs
Up to 4,000 lb (1,800 kg) full load, including:
Bombs or Torpedoes
(Fuselage mounted on 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 centre-section)
