The Grumman F6F Hellcat entered service in 1943 to replace the Wildcat. It was a carrier based fighter in the Pacific. Over 12000 of them were produced and while it looks like just a bigger version of the Wildcat, it was a totally new design. Nicknamed by its pilots as the “Aluminum Tank,” it had a well earned reputation of taking a lot of abuse from the enemy. This gorgeous Hellcat is part of the SoCal CAF Wing and was at the 2011 Reno Air Races where it participated in the Navy Centennial flights.