F6F Performance Trials

F6F Performance

Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment
Boscombe Down
15 September 1943

Hellcat F.N. 322
(Double Wasp R-2800-10)

Brief Performance trials

SUMMARY

Climb performance
Max. rate of climb in Main supercharger gear	= 2260 ft/min at 5400 feet.
Max. rate of climb in Aux. Lowspeed supercharger gear	= 1880 ft/min at 20500 feet.
Time to reach 10,000 ft.	= 4.65 minutes
Time to reach 20,000 ft.	= 10.0 minutes
Change gear height	= 9200 feet

Level speed performance
Max. T.A.S. at max. permissible power (rich mixture)	= 315 mph (274 knots) at 2000 ft. in Main supercharger
Max. T.A.S. at max. permissible power (rich mixture)	= 371 mph (322 knots) at 18700 ft. in Aux. Low Speed supercharger.
Max. T.A.S. at max. weak mixture power	= 288 mph (250 knots) at 11,100 ft. in Main supercharger.
True air Speed at 24,000 ft. at max. weak mixture power	= 335 mph (291 knots in Auxiliary Low Speed supercharger

Performance on Climb
Level Speed Performance

For the full report see HERE

U.S. Naval Air Station
Patuxent River, Maryland
March 16, 1944

Model F6F-3 Airplane - Periodic Performance Check
TED No. PTR-2125

F6F-3 No. 40164

SUMMARY

Model	F6F-3	XF6F-3	F6F-3
Airplane number	40164	02982	07746
Loading	Overload Fighter	Normal Fighter	Overload Fighter
Gross weight - lbs.	12,243	11,364	12,225

Military Power Performance	23,200

Airplane critical altitude - ft.	23,200	24,550
Maximum speed at airplane critical altitude - MPH	379.5	377.5
Service ceiling - ft.	37,000
Maximum rate of climb at sea level - FPM	2,900

Normal Power Performance

Airplane critical altitude - ft.	24,550	23,700
Maximum speed at airplane critical altitude - MPH	375	373.5
Service ceiling - ft.	36,400	38,500
Maximum rate of climb at sea level - FPM	2330	2500
Take-off distance, no wind - ft.	715		702
Take-off distance, 25 knot wind - ft.	335		327
Take-off speed - MPH	86.0		85.5

Stalling Speed

Clean - power on - MPH	97.0	96.5*
Clean - power off - MPH	98.5	98.5*
Landing condition power on - MPH	79.5	82.0*
Landing condition power off - MPH	85.5	85.5*

* Overload Fighter gross weight = 12,155 pounds

Airplane Critical Altitudes & Maximum Speed at Airplane Critical Altitudes
Time to Climb & Rate of Climb

For the full report see HERE

Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation
May 1, 1944
Report No. 2422B

Detail Specification
For
Model F6F-3 Airplane

SUMMARY

	Fighter (Normal)	Fighter (Overload)

Fuel (gals.)	182	250
Gross Weight (lbs.)	11506	12415
High Speed at sea level (MPH)	312	309
High Speed at 5500 ft. (MPH)	330	327
High Speed at 10500 ft. (MPH)	343	340
High Speed at 15000 ft. (MPH)	357	354
High Speed at 16100 ft. (MPH)	355	352
High Speed at max. engine rated alt. 21500 ft. (MPH)	373	370
High Speed at airplane critical alt. 23500 ft. (MPH)	379	376
High Speed at airplane critical alt. 25000 ft. at 1650 HP military rating (MPH)*	391	388
Stalling speed at sea level with full load and without power (MPH)	78.4	81.1
Stalling speed at sea level with full load less fuel without power (MPH)	74.6	75.9
Stalling speed at sea level less 1/2 fuel without power (MPH)	76.6	78.6
Initial rate of climb at sea level (ft./min)	3650	3600
Time to climb to 10,000 ft. (min.)*	3.1	3.2
Time to climb to 20,000 ft. (min.)*	7.0	7.2
Service ceiling (ft.)	35500	34400
Endurance at high speed (hr.) at 12000 ft. alt.	.84	1.15
Maximum endurance (hr.) at 12000 ft. alt.	6.04	8.03
Maximum range (mi.) at 12000 ft. at.	1100	1500
Average speed for maximum range (MPH) at 12000 ft. alt.	200	200
Average speed for maximum end (MPH) at 12000 ft. alt.	152	152
Take-off distance in calm (ft.)*	549	628
Take-off distance in 15-knot wind (ft.)*	351	402
Take-off distance in 25-knot wind (ft.)*	242	277

* Military Power
Time to climb uses military power for five minutes.

For the more of this report see HERE

Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment
Boscombe Down
22 August 1944

Hellcat FN. 360
(Double Wasp R-2800-10)

Level speed performance in
auxiliary high supercharger gear

SUMMARY

Level speed performance

Auxiliary high speed supercharger gear
	Weight 11500 lb.	Weight 10850 lb.
Max. true airspeed (mph) at full throttle height at max. permissible power	373	375
Full throttle height at max. permissible power	23600	23600
True airspeed (mph) at max. permissible power at: 30,000 ft. True airspeed (mph) at max. permissible power at: 35,000 ft.	352 307	357 320

Level Speed Performance

For the full report see HERE

U.S. Naval Air Station
Patuxent River, Maryland
September 1, 1944

Model F6F-3 Airplane - Periodic Performance Check
TED No. PTR-2125

F6F-3 No. 42633

SUMMARY

Airplane Number	42633	40164
Loading	Overload Fighter	Overload Fighter
Gross weight	12,416	12,243

Military Power Performance:

Airplane critical altitude - ft.	22500	23200
Maximum speed at airplane critical alt. - MPH	378.0	379.5
Service ceiling - ft.	38,000	37,000
Maximum rate of climb at sea level - FPM	3020	2900

Stalling Speed:

Clean-power on - MPH	98.0	97.
Clean-power off - MPH	100.5	98.5
Landing condition power on - MPH	80.0	79.5
Landing condition power off - MPH	84.5	85.5

Take-off Data:

Take-off distance, no wind - ft.	760	715
Take-off distance, 25 knot wind - ft.	365	335
Take-off speed - MPH	84.5	85.5
BHP at take-off	1840

Performance Characteristics - Maximum Speed
Time to Climb & Rate of Climb

For the full report see HERE

U.S. Naval Air Station
Patuxent River, Maryland
September 7, 1944

Performance Test Each 1000th Airplane
(TED No. PTR-2125)

F6F-5 No. 58310

SUMMARY

Model	F6F-5	F6F-3
Airplane Number	58310	40164
Loading	Overload Fighter	Overload Fighter
Gross weight -lbs	12,420	12,243

Military Power Performance:

Airplane critical altitude - ft.	23,100	23,200
Maximum speed at airplane critical alt. - MPH	391.0	379.5
Service ceiling - ft.	37,100	37,000
Maximum rate of climb at sea level - FPM	2,660	2,900

Normal Power Performance:

Airplane critical altitude - ft.	24,100	24,550
Maximum speed at airplane critical alt. - MPH	386.5	375
Service ceiling - ft.	36,500	36,400
Maximum rate of climb at sea level - FPM	2020	2330

Take-off Performance:

Take-off distance, no wind - ft.	755	715
Take-off distance, 25 knot wind - ft.	355	335
Speed - MPH	86.5	86.0
Airplane configuration	Full flaps	Full flaps
Speed - RPM	2700	2700
Cat - °C	24	--
BHP (torquometer	1850	--

Stalling Speed:

Clean -power on - MPH	96.0	97.0
Clean - power off - MPH	98.0	98.5
Landing condition - power on - MPH	79.0	79.5
Landing condition - power off - MPH	84.5	85.5

Performance Characteristics - Manifold Pressure, Brake Horsepower, True Airspeed
Climb Curves

For the full report see HERE

U.S. Naval Air Station
Patuxent River, Maryland
November 27, 1944

Final Flight Report
of
Production Inspection Trials
(TED No. BIS 2116)
on
Model F6F-3 Airplane No. 25892

SUMMARY

Airplane Number		02982	02982	04934
Gross Weight		11,364	11,364	11,573
Power		Normal	Military	Military

1.	Maximum Speed (high blower) :
	Brake horsepower	1550	1650	1650
	Airplane critical alt.-ft.	23,700	22,300	22,300
	Maximum speed at ACA-MPH	373.5	377.5	377.5

2.	Service Ceiling-ft	38,400	38,900	37,800

3.	Maximum rate of climb at sea level - FPM	2500	3120	3070

Airplane Number			02982
Gross Weight			11,364

4.	Stalling speed at sea level:
	Clean condition-power on - MPH		91.5
	Clean condition-power off - MPH		93.5
	Landing condition-power on - MPH		76.0
	Landing condition-power off - MPH		80.0

Airplane Number		02982	02982	04934
Gross Weight		11,364	12,153	11,573

5.	Take-off data: (Full flap) Distance in no wind-ft.	565	655	605
	Distance in 25 knot wind - ft	255	310	270
	Take-off speed - MPH	83.0	85.5	81.5

Performance Characteristics - True Airspeed, Brake Horsepower
Performance Characteristics - Time to Climb, Rate of Climb

For the full report see HERE

U.S. Naval Air Station
Patuxent River, Maryland
April 24, 1945

Evaluation of Maximum Practicable Combat Power Rating
For the Model F6F-3 Airplane on

Model F6F-3 Airplanes Nos. 04934, 41420, 42633
TED No. PTR-0414

SUMMARY

A. Maximum Speed:

(1)

At normal combat power RPM (2700)
with No. 25 drill size water jet.

Carburetor impact pressure setting - ins. Hg.	31.5	32.8	33.9	35
Airplane critical altitude - ft:
High Blower	18,000	16,900	16,000	15,080
Low Blower	13,100	12,000	11,020	10,150
Maximum speed at airplane critical alt. - MPH:
High Blower	381	382	382	382.5
Low Blower	372.5	373	373.5	374
Brake horsepower available:
High Blower	1942	2015	2078	2140
Low Blower	2108	2185	2250	2315
Manifold pressure - ins. Hg.
High Blower	57.7	60.0	62	63.8
Low Blower	58.1	60.3	62.2	64.1

(2)

At normal combat power RPM (2700)
with No. 18 drill size water jet.

Carburetor impact pressure setting - ins. Hg.	31.5	32.8	33.9	35
Airplane critical altitude - ft:
High Blower	17,800	16,650	14,650	14,750
Low Blower	12,720	11,630	10,720	9,800
Maximum speed at airplane critical alt. - MPH:
High Blower	378.5	379.5	380	380
Low Blower	369.5	370	370	370.5
Brake horsepower available:
High Blower	1920	2000	2060	2120
Low Blower	2085	2153	2215	2275
Manifold pressure - ins. Hg.
High Blower	57.4	59.8	61.8	63.7
Low Blower	58.1	60.4	62.3	64.4

B. Climb:

(1)

At normal combat power RPM (2700)
with No. 18 drill size water jet.

Carburetor impact pressure setting - ins. Hg.	31.5	32.8	33.9	35
Climb critical altitude - ft:
High Blower	15,600	14,500	13,500	12,500
Low Blower	10,600	9,500	8,500	7,500
Maximum rate of climb - FPM:
High Blower	2720	2850	2970	3080
Low Blower	3090	3220	3350	3470

Maximum Speed
Rate of Climb For the full report see HERE

U.S. Naval Air Station
Patuxent River, Maryland
April 25, 1945

Final Flight Report
of
Production Inspection Trials
(TED No. BIS 2154)
on

Model F6F-3 Airplane No. 42874

SUMMARY

A.	Performance (overload fighter - gross wt. = 12,680 lbs.)

	Power	Normal	Military

1.	Maximum Speed (high blower) :

	Brake horsepower	1580	1670
	Airplane critical alt.-ft.	24,100	23,400
	Maximum speed at ACA-MPH	371.5	376.0

2.	Service Ceiling-ft	38,100	38,600

3.	Maximum rate of climb at sea level - ft/min	2490	3080

4.	Stalling speed at sea level:

	Clean condition-power on - MPH	98.5
	Clean condition-power off - MPH	100.5
	Landing condition-power on - MPH	78.5
	Landing condition-power off - MPH	86.0

5.	Take-off data: (full flap)

	Distance in no wind-ft.	700
	Distance in 25 knot wind - ft	320
	Take-off speed - MPH	82.5
	BHP at take-off	2000

Performance Characteristics - True Airspeed, Brake Horsepower
Performance Characteristics - Time to Climb, Rate of Climb

For the full report see HERE

Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment
Boscombe Down
11 May 1945

Hellcat II JV.224
(Double Wasp R-2800-10)

Climb and level speed performance with
and without water injection.

SUMMARY

Climb performance

Standard height (ft) and remarks	Max. rate of climb (ft/min.)
Standard height (ft) and remarks	With water injection	Without water injection
2000-11,200 (FTH in Aux. Low gear) with water injection	3160	(2510) 2460 *
15,000	2510	(2510) 2460 *

Level speed performance

Standard height (ft) and remarks	Max. speed TAS mph (knots)
Standard height (ft) and remarks	With water injection	Without water injection
12000	354 (308)	335 (291)
18600	377 (328)	357 (310)
21800	367 (319)	367 (319)

Performance Climbs

Level Speed Performance

For the full report see HERE

U.S. Naval Air Station
Patuxent River, Maryland
July 9, 1945

Production Inspection Trials

Model F6F-3 Airplane No. 41588
TED No. BIS 2116

SUMMARY

	Overload Fighter (clean)
Gross weight - lbs	12,440
Maximum speed at high blower a.c.a. - MPH	382
High blower airplane crit. alt. - ft.	22,400
Service Ceiling - ft.	37,700
Maximum rate of climb at S.L. - ft.	3040

Performance Characteristics - True Airspeed
Climb Characteristics

For the full report see HERE

U.S. Naval Air Station
Patuxent River, Maryland
July 14, 1945

Performance Test Each 1000th Airplane
(TED No. PTR-2125.1)

Model F6F-5 Airplane No. 72731

SUMMARY

Model	F6F-5	F6F-5
Airplane Number	72731	58310
Loading	Overload Fighter with rocket launchers-twin pylon	Overload Fighter - single pylon
Gross weight - lbs	12,640	12,420

Military Power Performance:
Airplane critical alt. ft.	23,900	23,100
BHP @ ACA	1625	1655
Maximum speed at airplane critical alt. - MPH	376.5	391.0
Service ceiling - ft.	37,600	37,100
Maximum rate of climb at sea level - FPM	2,910	2,660
BHP @ S.L. (52.5" Hg. MAP)	1905	1850

Normal Power Performance:
Airplane critical alt. ft.	24,700	24,100
BHP @ ACA	1560	1555
Maximum speed at airplane critical alt. - MPH	372.5	386.5
Service ceiling - ft.	37,200	36,500
Maximum rate of climb at sea level - FPM	2180	2020
BHP @ S.L. (MAP-in.Hg.)	1,630 (45.0)	1,500 (44.0)

Performance Characteristics - Manifold Pressure, Brake Horsepower, True Airspeed
Rate of Climb & Time to Climb