drgondog
Major
Hellcat=Lead sled with regard to Reno's Unlimited category. It's as slick as a brick. Wasn't designed around a speed requirement, though. It was faster than its PTO opponents but mid 300 mph range was all it could manage. Upping HP could squeeze a little more speed out of it but, let's face it, it isn't a slick machine by any stretch. The F8F is a lot cleaner with a much better Reynold's number. The F6F is way too bluff - barn door frontal area - to be competitively aerodynamic.
Sweb should be right about the aero comparisons from the standpoint of parasite drag - although I have not seen the numbers.
The P-47 and the F6F despite having a lot of power should not do well on the deck because of the drag penalty of a huge frontal area/flat plate drag in maximum density air.
Corsair/Tempest should be better but still not up to 51/F8F potential - particularly around the pylon where the 180 degree turn is going to bleed serious energy compared to 51/F8F.