Republic XF-12 Rainbow

[GeorgeA]

50-60000 feet?

Makes you wonder what the **** kind of air defense threat they were thinking about.

They were ambitious in those days. The original spec for what became the B-36 called for a 45,000 ft ceiling, 450 mph over the target, and a 12,000 mi range — in early 1941.

 

[bercr]

Great color stuff from the NASM Rudy Arnold photo collection

http://edan.si.edu/slideshow/slideshowViewer.htm?eadrefid=NASM.XXXX.0356_ref1343

 

[RAP]

Pan Am Clipper ad

 

[merriman]

Pan Am Clipper ad

Apparently PAA failed to keep Jimmy Steward out of the cockpit. Ah, what might have been.

https://youtu.be/ELLDMuh32fY

David

 

[Mark Nankivil]

Good Day All -

A rather simplistic Republic drawing for the interior arrangement of the XF-12.

Enjoy the Day! Mark

 

[fightingirish]

129 pictures at the Cradle of Aviation Museum web archive.
Link:
https://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16694coll109/search/searchterm/RainbowIf this is the wrong topic or these pictures have been posted before, please let me know.

 

[hesham]

The Republic RC-2.

From Air Pictorial 1/1958,

I think this Info was for RC-2 ?.

 

[fightingirish]

Celebrating Aviation with Mike Machat
REPUBLIC XR-12 RAINBOW - World's Fastest Four-Engine Piston-Powered Aircraft
The right airplane at the wrong time - the story of Republic's attempt to build a record-breaking photo-recon aircraft and commercial airliner in 1946.

Again, a great video done by Mike Machat.
Video:

View: https://youtu.be/ZTy0zyfP6KI

Link:

https://youtu.be/ZTy0zyfP6KI

 

[hesham]

From Flying magazine 1946-12.

 

[A Tentative Fleet Plan]

Published on the forum over the XF-12. The French engineer Michel Wibault was a design member of the Rainbow propulsion unit.

 

[Stargazer]

A project to mate two F-84D Thunderjet fighters at the wingtips of a Rainbow...

Source: Cradle of Aviation Museum

 

[tab28682]

Adding a minor footnote to this thread.

The RC kit of the XF-12 posted by zbrubaker early in this thread is now out of production and the business has closed down. Through a friend, I was able to locate and obtain one of the kits (actually a semi kit), which are now unobtainium, and hope to add another flying example of this model to the skies someday soon. The Rainbow is, in my opinion, the most beautiful four engine prop aircraft ever created (even allowing for the lovely Connie)

All the pics here in this thread will be a huge help.

I did a micro scale RC XF-12 back around 2005 that used tiny RC equipment and tiny electric motors. The model was 1/72 scale and flew great, even at this tiny size.

To add a bit to the knowledge base. Every drawing I have seen (plus the Anigrand 1/72 scale resin model) has the rear of the engine nacelles shown incorrectly. They are depicted as round when they actually taper to a oval shape, with the long dimension set vertically.

 

[BrianB722]

Adding a minor footnote to this thread.

The RC kit of the XF-12 posted by zbrubaker early in this thread is now out of production and the business has closed down. Through a friend, I was able to locate and obtain one of the kits (actually a semi kit), which are now unobtainium, and hope to add another flying example of this model to the skies someday soon. The Rainbow is, in my opinion, the most beautiful four engine prop aircraft ever created (even allowing for the lovely Connie)

All the pics here in this thread will be a huge help.

I did a micro scale RC XF-12 back around 2005 that used tiny RC equipment and tiny electric motors. The model was 1/72 scale and flew great, even at this tiny size.

To add a bit to the knowledge base. Every drawing I have seen (plus the Anigrand 1/72 scale resin model) has the rear of the engine nacelles shown incorrectly. They are depicted as round when they actually taper to a oval shape, with the long dimension set vertically.

Glad to see the XF-12 forum is still going. Lucky you to have a KIT! I'm gonna try and build an RC, with the little I've found. I created a small 3D printed model as a starting point. Wish there was a set of part plans out there to send to a Lazer cutter.

I'm new to SecretProjects, so I don't know if there is a data file sharing feature. But I'd be glad to share the 3D design files for 3D printing.

 

[hesham]

Hi,

https://wahsonline.com/the-republic-xf-12-rainbow-the-airliner-that-never-was/

 

[FighterJock]

Another what if hesham, sad that it was never built.

 

[Stargazer]

Another what if hesham, sad that it was never built.

Technically, that's not exactly what I'd call a "what-if". To me, that term applies to ulterior imaginings by enthusiasts, not to legit period projects by a company. Since that airliner design was pretty much a real Republic project (as proved by these 1946 documents), I would rather call it a "might-have-been"...

 

[FighterJock]

Thanks Stargazer.

 

[Kiltonge]

Av Week, 01 Jun 1946: Rainbow contracted costs.

American Airlines: 20 at $1.1 million each
Pan Am: 18 at $1.125 million each

For comparison, a Martin 202 cost about $200,000 and an L-649 $850,000.

 

[hesham]

From, World’s Fastest Four-Engine Piston-Powered Aircraft