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I’ve been flying a Grumman Wildcat for several years and have also flown some other US Navy and British Aircraft of the WWII era. And much as I expected, the Hellcat was very similar to other American planes. First off, it’s big. As you mount this beast, you are struck by its size and rugged construction. You sit on top of this plane with a commanding view. Entering the cockpit, there is plenty of room for charts, etc. Everything is laid out in an orderly manner. There is a huge engine way in front of you, a huge slab of bulletproof glass to look through, giant wings and a massive slab of amour plate behind you. All this gives you a feeling of comfort and a certain sense of invincibility. The aircraft flies much like it looks: big, stable, heavy. Take your hands off to fold a chart and it just drives along. The controls are nice and light, well balanced if not overly responsive. The secret to this plane is speed. Over 200 knots, it comes alive. There is still a little hesitation upon application of aileron but once it’s sure you mean it, the roll rate is okay and can be helped along with some rudder. Once you get it banked over with that big wing, the turn rate is very good just don’t expect to reverse directions very quickly. The other area where this plane really shines is in slow flight. The plane is very stable. The nose isn’t very high and you have a good view with a nice buffet warning before the very slow stall. All these things make it a plane that would land on a carrier well. It became clear to me that this is the kind of plane I’d want if people were shooting at me. Lots of fire power, easy to manage and designed to get me home (self sealing fuel tanks, rugged structure, etc.) From the moment you see the Zero you know there is a big difference in philosophy to the design. First, it’s small and nimble looking. You do not mount a Zero. You don’t even step on a Zero. The structure is very light and the aluminum is so thin you would damage it if you stepped on it. Instead, you extract some very thin, lightweight tubes from the side of the fuselage and gently climb on these until you can step into the cockpit. Upon entering the cockpit you really feel like you’re the last component of the plane, almost an afterthought, ‘oh yeah, we need a pilot somewhere’. There are controls everywhere with no apparent order or design. My favorite are the gear and flap levers, both identical levers with the same shape handles, behind you on your right below the seat where you really can’t see them. Perhaps the biggest reason to feel not at home is on each side of the instrument panel protruding into the cockpit are two machine gun breaches and cocking levers. I have not personally ever shot a machine gun but I have to imagine that they make some noise and smoke and fumes. I don’t think that being in a small-enclosed space, with my head 18 inches from the breach, would be pleasant (or improve my aim). You also recline quite a bit and the panel reclines away from you. If you put on your shoulder harness tight enough to do any good, there are lots of controls you can’t reach. Ground visibility is poor but there is one pilot perk. The seat is easy to raise and lower and with the canopy open, you can stick your head up out of the cockpit and see okay. What about a landing turnover? Well, your shoulder harness isn’t on anyway so you’re probably not much worse off. The flying is where this plane really shines. It is very light, well- balanced and just loves to fly. I can’t really rate the control pressures and response rates, as once this plane takes flight you are not even aware of such mundane things. You think it, the plane has already done it. If I were a hunter going out to kill another plane, this is the tool I’d want. Which brings me to a real quandary. How did these planes fight each other? If I were a Hellcat pilot, I’d just get high, dive on the enemy and keep going. In the Zero, I’d want to get in close and chew them up. I don’t think any wise US pilot would try to turn with a Zero. I also imagine that the Zero pilot must get really frustrated that these F6Fs won’t stay and fight. I’m reminded of the saying, ‘Never bring a knife to a gun fight’. I see an athlete in a speedo with a very nice throwing knife going up against an armored guy with a shotgun. A special thanks to the Camarillo CAF for giving this pilot the opportunity to fly these rare and special flying machines. Be sure to visit their museum if you are in the area or visit their website, Camarillo CAF Website |
