June 26, 1942 - First Flight of the Grumman 'Hellcat' XF6F-1

aviation-history.com ^ | 2006 | Earl Swinhart

[smokingfrog]

In the spring of 1941, the Navy was looking to replace its F4F "Wildcat" (also manufactured by Grumman) in light of new developments in the field of aeronautics, and the worsening military situation both in Asia and in Europe. On June 30, 1941 the Navy ordered the prototypes XF6F-1 and XF6F-2. They were to have the Wright R-2600-16 engine, producing 1,700 horsepower, on the -1 and a Wright 2800-16 fitted with a turbo-supercharger on the -2. Immediately after the first flight of the XF6F1 on June 26, 1942, the craft was mysteriously redesignated the "XF6F-3" and the engine was changed to the Pratt-Whitney 2800-10 producing 2,000 horsepower. The reason for the mystery became evident only after the war.

Up until the time of the first flights of the XF6F-1, very little reliable information was available on the Japanese "Zero" fighter (Mitsubishi A6M Zero-Sen) except that it was fast, agile and shot down an alarming number of Allied aircraft. As happened on many occasions during WWII, Lady Luck was about to change all that. At the very time of the first flight of the XF6F-1, a curious incident was occurring 2,500 miles (4,023 km) away on a small island known as "Akutan" in the Aleutian chain which would have a devastating effect on the supremacy of the Mitsubishi A6M Zero-Sen.

[smokingfrog]

Specifications:
Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat
Dimensions:
Wing span:	42 ft 10 in (13.05 m)
Length:	33 ft 10 in (10.31 m)
Height:	14 ft 5 in (4.39 m)
Wing Area:	334 sq ft (31 sq m)
Weights:
Empty:	9,060 lbs (4,110 kg)
Normal Gross:	12,598 lbs (5,714 kg)
Maximum Gross:	15,413 lbs (6,991 kg)
Performance:
Maximum Speed:	380 mph (612 km/hr) @ 23,400 ft (7,132 m)
Cruising Speed:	200 mph (322 km/hr)
Landing Speed:	88 mph (142 km/hr)
Service Ceiling:	37,300 ft (11,369 m)
Combat Range:	945 mi (1,521 km)
Maximum Range:	1,530 mi (2,462 km)
Powerplant:
Pratt-Whitney R-2800-10W "Double Wasp" Air Cooled Radial 2,000 hp (1,492 Kw) Take-Off - 1,975 hp (1,473.9 Kw) @16,900 ft (5,151 m)
Armament:
Six .50 caliber (12.7 mm) Browning M-2 machine guns with 2,400 rounds mounted in the wings. Later models could substitute two 20 mm guns for the two inboard .50 calibers.

[magslinger]

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[alfa6]

A couple of Grumman pics from the Duxford airshow a few years back

F4F Wildcat on left and F6F Hellcat on right

Hellcat on top

A trio of Grummans, F8F on Top then the Hellcat and the Wildcat

How about 4 Grumman's in this pic. Left to right the Hellcat, F7F Tigercat, Bearcat and Wildcat.

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[19th LA Inf]

Flight Journal magazine has carried a series of articles by Corky Meyer about testing the Grumman airplanes during WW II. One interesting experience he mentions was high altitude testing of the F6F. At first there were frequent engine failures up past 30,000 feet or so. He knew that Republic P-47s, which used the same Pratt & Whitney R-2800, had no trouble getting up around 40,000 feet. Turned out that the P-47 was fitted with a better ignition harness that prevented high voltage ignition breakdown up in the thin air. Grumman, once they found out, demanded and got the better harnesses and were then able to meet the Navy's altitude requirements.

Corky Meyer is one of the few test pilots from that era who started on prop planes, went through most of the jet era and lived to be 80.

[rlmorel]

I have some nice Hellcat images, but I thought this crowd would be interested, and I wanted someone to share them with!

Check out these pictures my Mother-in-Law gave me...she knew I was interested in this kind of thing. She used to work at a store in East Boston during WWII, and people often brought pictures in but never came back to pick them up. When they were cleaning out the store years later, they came across these in a bunch of other ones that were going to be thrown out, and she never gave them much thought...

[rlmorel]

Okay...here is my contribution in tribute to this fine, rugged aircraft! It has never received its due, in my opinion.

[smokingfrog]

The Hellcat's nickname was "Ace Maker."

It was credited with over three-quarters of the US Navy's air-to-air kills in the war.

A fine aircraft, indeed. (I'd rather see the Hellcat on the tail of that zero.)

[BIGLOOK]

Aloha Alfa6!

I was about to ping you but you beat me here by a mile and a half!

I saw a pair of F6Fs at Hickham AB years ago as part of a show. Polished and pretty like a display.....then they were fired up and took off. They were still in business.