I'm posting this in hopes of getting the F6F speeds corrected.
Thus far, I have only located three primary sources for F6F speeds: the postwar "Standard Aircraft Characteristics" testing (available here), a 1944 comparative evaluation between F6F, F4U, and FW 190 (available here), and a 1944 comparative evaluation against A6M Model 52 (available here).
First, the results of my testing. All runs were made on the Crimea map at noon, 100% fuel, radiators closed,
elevator and rudder trimmed, full power and WEP, for ~5 minutes after speed and altitude were stabilized. TAS from gauges in no-cockpit view.
Alt.(feet) kph mph knots
SL 521 323 281
3k 521 323 281
5k 516 320 278
7k 518 321 279
9k 530 329 286
10k 541 336 292
12k 554 344 299
14k 571 354 308
15k 579 359 312
16k 585 363 315
18k 593 368 320
20k 611 379 329
22k 619 384 334
25k 615 382 332
30k 591 367 319
Now, the real-life tests:
From Navaer "Standard Aircraft Characteristics". Number "2" is Combat (WEP) power:
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/9...hnomarkha4.gif
From F4U/F6F/FW 190 comparative evaluation:
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/6638/comptestme7.gif
From the TAIC Zeke 52 report:
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/1479/taictestcg7.gif
All three tests indicate faster speeds than the F6F in PF. For a rough comparison, I plotted PF performance against
the Navaer graph:
PF performance in red:
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/2...hnavaerkh6.gif
With F4U/FW 190 test results in green:
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/8...f4f6190ps1.gif
I didn't attempt to graph the results from the Zeke 52 report because only the top speed is given; all other results
are in comparison to the Zeke which was not equipped with water injection. Please note that I don't consider my
additions to the Navaer chart as exact, although I think it gives a fair approximation.
My conclusion is that, at most altitudes, the PF Hellcat is performing below the levels of the lowest performing
test (Navaer "Standard Aircraft Characteristics") I could find. Also please note that the Navaer test is a postwar
test and that the plane listed is 300-500 lbs overweight from wartime F6F's.
Hopefully this issue can be addressed.<div class="ev_tpc_signature">
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http://img273.imageshack.us/img273/4...idensigao4.jpg

