US Grumman F6F HELLCAT COBI 5883 - World War II 1:48

You know that:

• When the US Navy was looking for a replacement for the aging F4F Wildcats, Grumman offered to upgrade them. Modifications were made to several Wildcat aircraft, but the first tests showed that it was simply not enough.
• Eventually, Grumman embarked on the development of an all-new XF6F-1 airborne fighter, known today as the F6F Hellcat.
• The new aircraft was first flown by test pilot Sheldon A. Converse on June 26, 1942.
• The proposed design fully met the ideas of the US Navy about a carrier-based fighter that would be able to gain supremacy over Japanese aircraft.
• During the tests, the enormous potential of the new design became apparent, but it was not fully utilized. The power of the Wright R-2600 engine was insufficient, and the designers decided on the heavier but more powerful Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engine.
• Serial production began before the end of 1942, and at the beginning of 1943 the first pieces were handed over to American troops.
• The first clash with the Zeros was an unpleasant surprise for the Japanese. Even though the Zera retained better maneuverability, the high speed, robustness, durability, and heavy armament of the Hellcats clearly dominated the air.
• The Hellcat was the first aircraft with the patented "Sto-Wing" folding wings, where the folded wings were directed along the fuselage with the leading edge downwards.
• In nine different versions, more than 12,275 units were produced over two years.
• Hellcats shot down 5,223 enemy aircraft during the fighting in the Pacific.
• After the end of the Second World War, most of the machines were transferred to depots. Only machines equipped with the latest 5Ns radar remained in service.
• The last pieces were definitively withdrawn from service in 1960.

Technical parameters:

• dimensions: wingspan 13.06 m, length 10.24 m, height 3.99 m
• empty aircraft weight 4,190 kg
• maximum take-off weight 6,992 kg
• power unit 1,491 kW Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10 radial engine
• climb rate 13 m/s
• maximum flight level 11,430 m
• maximum speed 629 km/h
• stall speed 135 km/h
• volume of fuel tanks 946 l
• range of 2,460 km
• minimum runway length for take-off 244 m
• armament 6x M2 Browning machine gun caliber 12.7 mm + 1x Mark 13 torpedo, or suspended Mk.3 unguided missiles
• crew 1

From the memoirs of Edward "Butch" O'Hara, a pilot with the 2nd Marine Fighter Squadron, US Navy:

"We went to the battle for Tarawa for the first time with the new Hellcat aircraft. It was November 20, 1943, and our task was to cover the ground troops during the landing on the islet of Betio. From the first minute, nothing went well. Right after take-off, one plane had to disconnect from us due to a malfunction, but the worst was yet to come. During the overflight, we were attacked by the Japanese without warning. Ten Zers were attacking from the sun, and their presence was revealed only by the glowing missiles that flew right in front of my engine. There was an incredible confusion. I don't know how it could happen, but everything happened so quickly that there was no time to worry. I remember instinctively pulling my glasses over my eyes and something shutting down all my emotions. I took five Japanese out of the sky that day and the rest scattered. When I landed safely after returning, everyone patted me on the back and asked how I did it. I didn't know what to say and all they heard from me was something like: I guess I was lucky."