Author Topic: F6F Hellcat  (Read 17968 times)

Offline Ack-Ack

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Re: F6F Hellcat
« Reply #30 on: January 11, 2012, 12:08:17 PM »

Did the Tigers ever actually fly against Zeros?  Serious question, I was under the impression that the few Zekes ever used in China were used there and withdrawn quite awhile before the AVG became active.

- oldman

I don't believe they faced any Zeros, though a few Zeke squadrons were sent to China but mostly in the coastal areas if I remember correctly.

ack-ack
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Offline Noir

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Re: F6F Hellcat
« Reply #31 on: January 11, 2012, 01:01:49 PM »
I used to fly the hellcat until they 'fixed' the rear view...and I'm not an isolated case.

The F6F turns nicely until you reach the nasty stall...the F4U holds all the cards since AH doesn't simulate the price difference :)
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Offline FLS

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Re: F6F Hellcat
« Reply #32 on: January 11, 2012, 01:23:21 PM »
When the flying tigers notified the U.S Government about the Zero they did not believe the capabilities they were describing. The U.S government did not take the info coming out of china seriously.

The US government is not a conscious entity.  :devil

You can be sure that there was a lot of interest by aircraft designers in what the other countries were flying.

Offline MAINER

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Re: F6F Hellcat
« Reply #33 on: January 11, 2012, 02:33:51 PM »

Did the Tigers ever actually fly against Zeros?  Serious question, I was under the impression that the few Zekes ever used in China were used there and withdrawn quite awhile before the AVG became active.

- oldman

I believe that the Tigers did encounter the Zeros. There was a show on the history channel about it.
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Offline Ack-Ack

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Re: F6F Hellcat
« Reply #34 on: January 11, 2012, 02:49:48 PM »
I believe that the Tigers did encounter the Zeros. There was a show on the history channel about it.

The Flying Tigers AVG never encountered the Zeke in combat over China.

As for using a show on the History Channel as a verified source, I once saw a show on the History Channel that said the P-51D was equipped with 6x 50mm cannons.

ack-ack
« Last Edit: January 11, 2012, 02:51:21 PM by Ack-Ack »
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Offline MAINER

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Re: F6F Hellcat
« Reply #35 on: January 11, 2012, 03:36:08 PM »
The Flying Tigers AVG never encountered the Zeke in combat over China.

As for using a show on the History Channel as a verified source, I once saw a show on the History Channel that said the P-51D was equipped with 6x 50mm cannons.

ack-ack

6x 50mm cannons!!!!  :O :O :O I did not notice that before... Maybe I should fly the 51 more...
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Offline MK-84

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Re: F6F Hellcat
« Reply #36 on: January 11, 2012, 03:48:40 PM »
The History Channel... :rofl

Offline Tupac

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Re: F6F Hellcat
« Reply #37 on: January 11, 2012, 05:05:28 PM »
The Flying Tigers AVG never encountered the Zeke in combat over China.

As for using a show on the History Channel as a verified source, I once saw a show on the History Channel that said the P-51D was equipped with 6x 50mm cannons.

ack-ack

and your B38 is a light bomber  :D
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Offline USAF2010

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Re: F6F Hellcat
« Reply #38 on: January 11, 2012, 05:09:40 PM »
TV =  :devil
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Offline Shuckins

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Re: F6F Hellcat
« Reply #39 on: January 11, 2012, 09:14:30 PM »
After a rather long hiatus, I renewed my subscription briefly.  I took the F6F, which had been my favorite ride, up for a test flight.  The first thing I noticed was that the rear view had been ruined.

I found that change to be inexplicable.  While the view from the Hellcat could not compare to that of a fighter with a bubble canopy, it was described by many WW II pilots as being "good".  Grumman's chief test pilot for the F6F was Corky Meyer, as many of you know.  In an article in a special edition of Flight Journal Corky described it thusly:

"Visibility from the cockpit was excellent for almost 360 degrees.  Visibility aft was enhanced by a rearview mirror.  The Hellcat fuselage's eight-degree nose-down angle provided excellent visibility for lead corrections when firing the six guns."

I read one statement in this thread that stated that the Corsair had superior turning ability to the F6F.  That flies in the face of almost everything I have read about both fighters over the years.  While the Corsair had superior ailerons, and could thus change direction more easily, once locked into a turn the Hellcat was superior.  It's docile stall characteristics were also superior to the Corsair's.  Taken together the Hellcat's turn rate and gentle stall gave it an advantage over the Corsair in turning.

Offline F6Fraven

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Re: F6F Hellcat
« Reply #40 on: January 11, 2012, 09:14:51 PM »
I only fly the F6. I'm mainly an on the deck, turn and burn fighter. I've tested most of the planes out in AH, and it always seems like every plane has its strengths, and a major flaw (with very few exceptions.) For example, the P51 is fast, but it doesn't maneuver well, the LA7 is fast and maneuvers relatively well but its guns are hard to use and are limited, the Brewster is maneuverable, has excellent guns, but is not fast and not durable. I might be biased because I've been flying the F6 since 98 on and offline, but to me it does everything reasonably well, and has no major weakness. In the MA I have no fear fighting on the deck with spits, or entering a furball because the F6 turns very well, is a stable platform, has great guns with plenty of ammo, is nearly average in speed, and can absorb plenty of hits and still perform well when damaged. Before the update a year or so ago, I use to be able to fly with 1/2 a wing and still have enough stability to defend myself. I think flying the F6 is not just about using a single fighting aspect to your advantage, like using speed to BnZ, or maneuverability to TnB. The F6 doesn't do anything really well, but if you can combine everything it does relatively well you'll be deadly.

Offline Tank-Ace

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Re: F6F Hellcat
« Reply #41 on: January 12, 2012, 12:47:42 AM »
I would consider the K4 to be relatively flawless. Its only real downside is the balistics of the 30mm, which are made up for with the ability to kill everything this side of an Il-2 with a single round.

P-51 is also pretty well rounded. Its not extermely manuverable, but you can take it into some sketchy situations and come back. I've done it and seen it done.


Ki-84 would also seem to be one of more 'flawless' planes, really only lacking in dive speed.

I would also say the spitfire..... but I hate spitfires, so I won't say it. Flying the damn thing is basicly pointless if you want to push yourself to do better in every fight.
« Last Edit: January 12, 2012, 12:51:10 AM by Tank-Ace »
You started this thread and it was obviously about your want and desire in spite of your use of 'we' and Google.

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Offline Ack-Ack

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Re: F6F Hellcat
« Reply #42 on: January 12, 2012, 01:11:06 AM »


I would also say the spitfire..... but I hate spitfires, so I won't say it. Flying the damn thing is basicly pointless if you want to push yourself to do better in every fight.

There is nothing wrong with the Spitfire or with flying it.  The only problem are people such as yourself that for some idiotic and moronic reasons think that by flying it you will not improve or learn anything.  If the pilot has no desire to improve and learn, they aren't regardless of what they fly.

ack-ack
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Offline Ardy123

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Re: F6F Hellcat
« Reply #43 on: January 12, 2012, 03:22:06 AM »
There is nothing wrong with the Spitfire or with flying it.  The only problem are people such as yourself that for some idiotic and moronic reasons think that by flying it you will not improve or learn anything.  If the pilot has no desire to improve and learn, they aren't regardless of what they fly.

ack-ack

Ack-ack,
Some planes force the pilot to focus on certain aspects of ACM, throttle management, and e management more than others in order to be successful. Planes like the spit 16 aren't as demanding. So yes, one should and will learn regardless, but I would argue that one would learn certain aspects faster in other rides as they would be forced to in order to feel 'successful'.
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Offline Fish42

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Re: F6F Hellcat
« Reply #44 on: January 12, 2012, 03:28:32 AM »
The Flying Tigers AVG never encountered the Zeke in combat over China.

As for using a show on the History Channel as a verified source, I once saw a show on the History Channel that said the P-51D was equipped with 6x 50mm cannons.

ack-ack

By that thinking the hurri IIb had 12 x 303mm cannons  :O... a hurricane with the fire power of battleship broadside  :devil I want I want   

 The brits must have worked out how to store the shells in the bloody ether.