F-6F HELLCAT - "MINSI II" FLOWN BY DAVID MCCAMPBELL

Historical Note:           The F6F Hellcat is a fighter aircraft manufactured by Grumman. It originated from F4F Wildcat but the difference between the two is the design. Its maiden flight was on the 26th of June 1942 and it was introduced commercially in 1943. Its primary users are the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, Fleet Air Arm, and French Navy. It retired in 1954.

The F6F was designed for a single mission and it is to eliminate the Zero from the skies of the Pacific. The F4F Wildcat was good in battles but early fights reveal that the Zero was more maneuverable and has got a better rate of climb compared to the F4F. Though it has advantages over the Zero such as faster speed and better armament the Zero is still quite better in battles. These advantages are carried over to the next aircraft developed to battle with the Zero, the F6F Hellcat.

The F6F Hellcat has a 212 lb cockpit armor to aid pilot survival; and it also has bullet-resistant windshield and armor around its engine oil tank and oil cooler. Captain David McCampbell, the all time leading ace of the United States Navy, scored all his victories aboard the Hellcat. McCampbell described the F6F as an outstanding fighter aircraft. It is easy to fly and has a stable gun platform plus it is rugged and easy to maintain. Enemy aircrafts of about 5,000 fell victim to the F6F‘s lethal firepower. It has a kill ratio of 19:1.

Scale:    1:28
W/S:      18.0  inches, 
Lgth:      14.1  inches

Item Number:    TMC-AF6F                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Price:    $169.95