The Sole Hellcat That Never Saw Combat ‘Grumman F6F-5N Hellcat’ Displayed the Flying Heritage & Armor Museum

The Grumman F6F Hellcat was one of the most effective carrier-based fighters of World War II. Designed to outperform the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it played a major role in the Pacific Theater. By the end of the war, Hellcats had accounted for over 5,000 enemy aircraft shot down. Known for its durability, pilots often described it as an “aluminum tank” because it could withstand heavy damage and still return to base. However, not every Hellcat saw action. One particular aircraft, now displayed at the Flying Heritage & Armor Museum, has a unique history that sets it apart.

The Storied History of a Rare F6F-5N Hellcat

This rare F6F-5N Hellcat was built as a night fighter in the later years of the war. It was shipped to Pearl Harbor in 1945 but never engaged in combat. Its design included radar equipment to detect enemy aircraft in low visibility conditions, but the war ended before it could be put to use. After the war, it was repurposed for aerial target practice, a fate that many surplus aircraft met.

The aircraft was modified into an unmanned drone for anti-aircraft gunnery training. It was equipped with remote control systems that allowed it to fly without a pilot while Navy gunners used it as a moving target. Despite being used for training exercises, it was never destroyed. The Hellcat remained in service as a drone for several years before being retired from the Navy’s inventory in 1961.

After its military service, the Hellcat changed hands multiple times. In the mid-1960s, it was acquired by a private owner who ensured its preservation. Over the following decades, it appeared in aviation museums and airshows, including the prestigious Oshkosh air event. In the 1980s, it was displayed during Grumman’s 50th-anniversary celebrations. In the 1990s, the aircraft was flown across the Atlantic Ocean to the United Kingdom, stopping in Iceland along the way.

The Hellcat’s Restoration and Preservation by Paul Allen

In December 2000, Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft and aviation enthusiast, purchased the Hellcat and brought it back to the United States. The mechanics at the Flying Heritage & Armor Museum restored it to full flying condition. Unlike many other warbirds, this aircraft has retained much of its original structure. While it has undergone restoration, it has not been completely rebuilt from the ground up. Because it was never abandoned or left in poor condition, it remains one of the most original Hellcats in existence today.

The aircraft features a Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engine, a powerful and reliable design used in many World War II fighters. The propeller, measuring over 13 feet in diameter, was designed to generate the thrust needed for carrier operations. The Hellcat’s wings, which could be folded to conserve space on aircraft carriers, still function as they did during the war.

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