REPUBLIC XR-12 RAINBOW - World's Fastest Four-Engine Piston-Powered Aircraft

[@matthewstorm5188]

I’d be willing to bet that another thing that helped to kill this plane was the R4360 itself. While considered an engineering marvel due to the fact that it was the largest and most powerful production aircraft piston engine, these guys weren’t exactly paragons of reliability. Engine failures were common. And operating costs were high. If there was ever a good selling point for more reliable jets, this was it. On the other hand, this plane was positively SCREAMING for turboprops. Just imagine this thing with four Allison T56-A-14’s from an Orion. With a boost to almost 5000HP per engine from 3000HP, this plane would have COOKED! Hell, the Orion could go 473MPH. And that’s a larger and less aerodynamic plane. On the XR12, you would probably see speeds similar to the Tupolev Bear.

[@lucasokeefe7935]

That really would have been something. With the appropriate redesign of the wings it would easily have reached 600mph, maybe even transonic. 20,000hp; a third the power of the Tu-95 but also smaller, more aerodynamic and a quarter the weight. Imagine what a low fly by at high speed would have sounded like

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Great point, thanks! (With apologies for this late reply.)

[@alantoon5708]

Post war budgets also played their part, as well as the jet engine. Remember that the XB-47 first flew not long afterwards...

[@bjboss1119]

Yeah but... why make this thing again, the german salamander can reach the same speeds

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

@@alantoon5708 Good point, and yes the B-47 first flew in December 1947 representing the future of aviation. Thanks for watching!

[@jag524]

Now there’s something I never expected. This aircraft has eluded my 67 years of aviation involvement. Thanks for the enlightenment.

[@telsport]

Dont feel bad..it just goes to show ya how sneaky the govt can be.

[@karlswartz1308]

@@telsport Hard to call them sneaky when he has pictures of it surrounded by crowds at an airshow, not to mention the press at the "second first" flight. It was all pretty open at the time.

[@bjbeardse]

Many years ago, late 70's-early 80's a very large main landing gear washed up on Panama City Beach after a big hurricane. I remember looking at it and no one could figure out what is came from. I now realise it must have been from the 2nd aircraft. Take the fairing off the main gear and that is what I saw on the beach 40+ years ago.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Amazing story, thanks!

[@DeerHunter308]

Kept me watching the whole video. A special event to my jaded eyes. A lot of information packed into under 19 minutes. Thanks Mike.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks Martin - appreciate the comment!

[@davidhollenshead4892]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 Martin is right to point out that you focused on information rather than infotainment. The one thing you left out in the military's preference for jet aircraft was the maintenance issue. The high-performance radial engines required too much care & feeding when compared to jets, due to having a more complete design & more moving parts...

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

@@davidhollenshead4892 Great point, thanks!

[@pancudowny]

@@davidhollenshead4892 The same reasoning applies to off-shore racing boats, and diesel railway locomotives.

[@lotharvonrichthofen4474]

I hate the fact that they’d blow up or shoot up or chop up these incredible flying machines...this one in particular was a beautiful design

[@richardm3023]

I bet you'd get a kick out of it if you were the one who got to shoot them down.

[@3ducs]

@@richardm3023 It wasn't a target drone, it was on the ground when blown up.

[@imperialsecuritybureau6037]

Of all the billions of DC aircraft and other mass-produced warplanes, they chose the most unique, sole surviving example of one of the fastest 4-engine propeller aircraft ever built. Whoever made that decision should’ve been discharged...

[@richardanderson5109]

@@imperialsecuritybureau6037 At least strung up by the balls !!!!!!! ♿ 🇺🇸

[@jaex9617]

Beautiful, indeed.

[@bungeechord1]

My dad John Bunge, worked at Rupublic, Fairchild, Hiller, etc for 47 years. He often said it was starting to become a steady job. I worked on the last 2 years of the A-10 build. They closed the doors and I went to work for Hughes Aircraft, Microelectronics Systems Division in CA. I didnt miss the nightshift at FH. It was nice to see the sun again. The Warthog is still kicking butt!

[@soaringvulture]

I made parts for the Warthog in the 70's. I'm still proud of that. It was and is a righteous aircraft.

[@bungeechord1]

I wonder if we ever met?

[@soaringvulture]

@@bungeechord1 Probably not. I worked for company called Arwood in Tilton, New Hampshire. We made parts for everything that flew, even some that flew to the moon.

[@bungeechord1]

Oh, ok. My dad and I worked on the shuttle rear stabilizing wing. I got a job with TUV in Nashua and moved to NH. Now retired in MA. Like you, I'm proud to have contributed to the A10 build.

[@richardhertz1989]

I grew up less than 10 miles from this republic plant . It employed neighbors and extended family . It was about 10 miles from the Grumman Bethpage plant . In that section of long Island were a lot of jobs and sub contractors and making planes was what we were known for . Today it's gone and only a memory to those old enough and unknown to the millennial and younger age groups .

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment Richard, and I totally agree about that part of Long Island's proud aviation heritage and what's left of it today. Thanks for watching!

[@johnnyallred3753]

Just finished Lowery L. Brabham article on flying the Rainbow in a old Air Classic magzine Nov.1975 and thought dose Celebrating Aviation have a video on the XR-12. You do great!!. 😊Thank you

[@F4GRAPHICS]

The detail and the effort that's put into these, with all the rare imagery and found trivia, really lends these aircrafts stories a more touching aspect. Subbed.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Many thanks, and great to have you aboard!

[@lewiskemp5893]

Great job showing a plane I've never seen. And as a kid in the 70s I researched every plane I could. Even had a autographed photo of Pappy Boyington. I'm impressed

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Many thanks!

[@davidwaldrup9449]

This is the best treatment I've seen of the beautiful Republic Rainbow. Many images not seen before and development details. Well done.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks, and appreciate the comment!

[@ReptileRescue]

I've been a military history and aviation enthusiast all my life, and even was an aircraft owner and pilot myself, and I'd never heard of the Rainbow. I knew about literally every other plane mentioned in this video, except the XR-12. I can't believe I wasn't familiar with it. But, that was a time between the end of WWII and the early 60s when hundreds of prototypes and concepts were being thrown out there and the zone was flooded with new plane designs and they quickly got rid of many of them after only a few years, even if they went into production and saw service. Thanks for bringing the story of this great plane to light. Excellent video.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Great comment, thanks!

[@alantoon5708]

I liked the picture of the Rainbow with the C-54/DC-4 in the background. It is a little known fact that Republic almost went bankrupt in the late 1940's and had to resort to converting C-54's for airline use to keep the doors open. Another wonderful program, Mike.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks Alan, and I consider that a most ironic photo!

[@coreyandnathanielchartier3749]

Imagine changing 224 spark plugs on one of these types of planes. This is a beautiful craft, very obscure information, thanks.

[@stephenross8463]

I'd never heard of The Rainbow.....now I have, thanks a lot. Greetings from N.E England...

[@Violincase]

Fascinating & well-presented video! Special thanks for NOT cluttering the sound track with pointless & distracting cheap-ass mood muzak.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@richarddouglass1994]

Great presentation! Thanks for the briefing. The right airplane at the wrong time says it all. So many airplanes fit that description.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Agreed! (With apologies for this late reply.)

[@jamesconner3437]

My dad was a radar tech during the post WWII and Korean era. We lived at a trailer park beside the old McGee-tyson base outside Knoxville, Tn. I had been born with severe astigmatism, or I would have been a pilot ! I subscribed to this channel as soon as I found it, because of the professional, low key voice over and the amazing content. Will watch your "Extinct Species" video after this. Thanks for a very well done compilation. ...btw, I wound up in the Navy as a navigator out of Pearl Harbor...lol...that was pretty cool also, for the world travel 1968-1972...

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Great comment, thanks, and we were in the service at the same time (me in USAF). Glad to have you aboard as a subscriber!

[@chrisnizer5702]

I too had aspirations of becoming a pilot. When I enlisted in the Marines I was told that the only way I would be coming onboard an aircraft was as a passenger due to my vision.

[@garfieldsmith332]

A most enjoyable history lesson. Another trip down memory lane. The development of the jet engine made the post war large piston engine aircraft obsolete. As you mention all those WW2 aircraft were available for a very low price to airlines who used them until the jet became the standard engine for commercial air travel.

[@caribman10]

Chance Vought was still building Corsairs, which were used in Korea and Vietnam, as were P-61's, F-82's, B-29's, A-1's and a whole host of other recip powered aircraft. So much for obsolescence.....

[@garfieldsmith332]

@@caribman10 Obsolete in technology but they were stilled used. Like anything manufactured it becomes obsolete but can be used for decades. Obsolete equipent os still used today, but they do not manufacture a lot of it.

[@PhantomP63]

An interesting sidenote- several Douglas Invaders were converted to business transports and called the On-Mark Marksman. It was a similar concept to today's business jets.

[@mattsta1964]

Fantastic! I never knew this aircraft existed

[@ELMS]

I understand that you’d do an entire video on this aircraft. What a beauty. A real “what if” machine.

[@anthonyryan923]

I had never heard of this aircraft; thank you for bringing it to our attention.

[@kcouche]

Well spoken story. As an old C-54 pilot, its hard to imagine cookin' along with four 4360's at 400 and 40k!

[@nunyabusiness5075]

Interesting to note that 20 years separated the old car from the Rainbow, because 20 years after that the SR-71 was the new photo recon plane.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Great point, thanks!

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

Even more dramatic and as early was the XB70 Valkyrie.

[@thetreblerebel]

This was a comprehensive guide to a virtually unknown military Recon Aircraft. I found out last year about the Rainbow. It was a phenomenal step in air reconnaissance. A footstep leading to the SR72 and U2 RB 33 etc... It had a high ceiling for a piston driven aircraft. Great video...thank you

[@Farweasel]

Yep. But...... By way of context, by spring 1949 the Brits had the Canberra Bomber / Recce aircraft flying with no traumas at 580 mph (500 kn) with service ceiling of 48,000 feet.

[@gravelydon7072]

@@Farweasel And what became the US equivalent, the RB-57. NASA still has 3 and two will be in Hawaii when the first sub-orbital launch of a SpaceX Starship happens. The cameras will be pointing up instead of down.

[@paulmurphy42]

Well done Mike - you didn't just think of, you actually did, cover everything! Well done again.

[@amramjose]

I was not aware of this airplane; it would have been an interesting flyer with turboprops. Great video, thanks for posting.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks Jose - appreciate the comment!

[@mastathrash5609]

Nor was I, great video 👍

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

Theres some nice flying RC models of this available ... bigger the better in some ways...most run electric motors.

[@edruttledge342]

I am a Part 107 certified UAS pilot doing aerial photo work. This was fascinating. Thank you.

[@drawn2myattention641]

Thank you for giving me an experience that I thought was long past: love at first sight. How could such a beautiful aircraft be so forgotten? And your comparison graphics with other aircraft are well done and informative.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks, and appreciate the comment!

[@johnnyallred3753]

Yes I enjoyed the video on the Republic Rainbow I did not know it was the fastest prop aircraft Do not stop making the aviation video I enjoy all of them.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Many thanks!

[@plantfeeder6677]

I saw a picture of this plane when I was a young boy. Never knew what it was. Thanks for the video

[@petergates5170]

Excellant and very informative video...new a/c type to me...another hidden gem..... perfect voiceover and no silly music... well done...10 /10

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Many thanks!

[@donaldstanfield8862]

What an amazing achievement, wish at least one had been a museum piece!

[@richardanderson5109]

DONALD STANFIELD There was one,but the bastards blew it up !!!!! ♿ 🇺🇸

[@glennspace1091]

I discovered a bunch of old 8x10's B&W photos of this plane in his things I inherited. I thought it was a cool airplane! Thanks for the detailed historical explanation!

[@johnplaninac9980]

Another great video really enjoyed this video very informative and interesting. A Great looking airplane.

[@765kvline]

I'm impressed. Have never heard of this aircraft. Quite amazing speed and the design is remarkable.

[@Makeitliquidfast]

Mike is not just a great aviation artist but his knowledge and presentation are top drawer.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@Makeitliquidfast]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 You are welcome, you dont remember me but I was in az when you and Keith Ferris were forming the Aviation Artists of America I think? We had a show and I actually painted Claire Chenault on a Beech 18 door at that show we all were doing. I've worked for Flight Magazine, Private Pilot, Flying, and many defense contractors as an aviation artist. Now I paint and make stained glass for the Catholic Church but still do some aviation art. There is actually an Me 163 comet pilot still living in the town I live in named Carl Grosch, I have a large painting of the comet that hes going to sign, hes 96. All the best. stevevoita.com

[@danf321]

The XR-12, like the Connie, is just beautiful and awesome from any angle. Great video!

[@gravelydon7072]

And the Stratocruiser was just an ugly Duckling. Interesting to see them in size comparisons and sad is the fact that I have flown in all of them except the XR-12. Too bad it didn't include the DC-3 in the size drawings. And maybe the D-H Comet as it has a lot of the same shape to it. Yeah, I'm dating myself as I've flown in those too.

[@Dave5843-d9m]

The British DeHavilland DH-98 Mosquito (made from plywood) first flew in November 1940 and went into service at end of 1941. The PR version did 425mph at 30,000 ft on two much smaller engines. It's successor the DH 103 Hornet did 475 mph at 21,000 ft as a fully armed fighter. A PR version would have cracked 500mph. Just like the XR-12 it never got the chance to shine because jet power was taking over.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Great comment, thanks!

[@roberthardy3090]

Well, the EE Canberra was under development, much faster much higher flying and still doing photo reconnaissance at the end of the 20th century.

[@stephenallen4635]

@@roberthardy3090 and still doing almost the same job today

[@88SC]

The XP-72 wasn’t turbosupercharged. That dark area on both sides of the fuselage, just aft of the engine is an array of open exhaust stacks. Seven outlets on each side, using the siamesed header arrangement. Plans were to add a two stage mechanical supercharger with the first stage located aft of the cockpit, using a driveshaft. But that’s trivial; this is an excellent history of the XF-12. The photographs are amazing.

[@jimfinlaw4537]

Yes, the XP-72 was one of the fastest planes developed during WWII. It was estimated to have a top speed of 504 mph although the second prototype only ever flew a top speed of 490 mph because the test pilot didn't want to push the experimental engine to it's maximum for fear it would catch fire. As it turned out, on another separate flight at 25,000 feet, the second XP-72's engine did catch on fire and the test pilot put the plane into a dive, which extinguished the fire. Flying the plane dead stick with monster contra rotating propellers spinning up front, he made a spectacular belly landing at a Army Air Force base in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The second XP-72 was never repaired and it was later donated to the Boy Scouts of America as a static trainer for the Air Scouts. The first prototype was scrapped shortly afterwards. On the P-72 Superbolt production models, General Electric was developing a new two stage centrifugal blower supercharger unit that measured nearly 5 feet in diameter for the P-72 Superbolt. This unit was to be fitted in the tail section behind the cockpit with a long driveshaft that ran underneath the cockpit, connected by two fluid couplings, thus hooking up the engine to the blower supercharger unit together. With this configuration, the P-72 was estimated to have a top speed of 540 mph making it the fastest piston powered fighter plane of WWII, but as it turned out, Lockheed's P-80 Shooting Star overshadowed its performance and the P-72 was cancelled.

[@88SC]

@@jimfinlaw4537 oops, it’s been a year, but one other comment about the XP-72 is how close it is to the R-4360 powered Sea Furies that we’re modified for the Reno Air Races. Dreadnought and Furias. Close match in size and power, although maybe the Furies have been lightened. But with the same engines and nearly-identical exhaust systems, I think they’d be a close match in sound. Except at speed, the underbelly scoop on the XP made who knows what kind of sound. Just a fun thought for those who enjoy warbird music.

[@auntbarbara5576]

Mike we love and appreciate your vast wealth of knowledge and infectious enthusiasm. Another superb presentation. Among the highest quality content on the internet. Happy New Year everyone!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks Barbara - you're the best!

[@CaoimhinOMaol]

Having grown up in Farmingdale it’s fun to see the former Republic factory. Worked as a plainclothes security guard during the night shift. Very few people present, this was during the “AX”, later named the “A-10” production. Had freedom to wander through the entire plant. Except for the hangers on the East side of the runway all gone, though the ramshackle remains of the Seversky Aircraft building that lay on the north side of Conklin Road is still there. The building was used by the Fairchild-Republic Corp, drafting tables the length of the second floor and office space on the first. In the 60’s and 70’s The area around Farmingdale was still farming land, most fields open grassland and disused barns along Rte 110 corridor.

[@Minong_Manitou_Mishepeshu]

My god that's a gorgeous bird. Imagine that thing with a big modern turbo-p with counter rotating props.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Agreed!

[@CockatooDude]

You'd probably have to change the airfoils on the wings and reinforce the fuselage. But it would be sick.

[@martinstrumpfer1620]

The end of Ship 1's life is just tragic! Pity it couldn't be preserved.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Agree 100%!

[@K-Effect]

It would've made a perfect turbo prop

[@asteverino8569]

Thank you. I enjoyed the narration, photos and editing. I just really liked this.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@keithhoughton4308]

Interesting story very well presented and without distracting music. Well done. Subscribed.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks, and great to have you aboard!

[@ronstowell8646]

Truly one of the most beautiful designs to date. I just cant wrap my head around how they disposed of these machined like a bag of trash. Absolutely unacceptable how these aircraft were treated.

[@markdoldon8852]

Hundreds of failed prototypes have been destroyed over the decades. Nobody has the money to simply store, preserve, and display these things away so that someone 80 yrs later can look at them. It's just not practical. Even actual commissioned aircraft can't justify the expense of maintaining them for many years, let alone what were effectively experiments that were superceded by more effective aircraft.

[@robwilde855]

That fact, towards the end, was the most shocking: that they'd choose the single remaining aircraft of its type as a ground target for gunnery practice. Why? How many other old types from large production runs were available? I suppose no one wanted the cost of keeping the thing around - this was before the preservation groups really got going. Still, hard to fathom... Rather like clubbing the world's last dodo. Anyway, very interesting and informative video. Also well made, very watchable. Thanks.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks and appreciate the great comment!

[@jacobsparry8525]

Oh come on, I am just at 15 and I know it why they do that. They haved ined the contracts that ifed they are not created or moved into manufactering then they wrecked them for several of reasons. One is so no one cand take the old equipment piece and used it for competing withed any other companys and too so it cand not be photographed ined detail so others governments as Russians cand not reversed engineering of it. Too all so when the armys do contracting for a new plane they do owned it and for samed reason they do wrecked it ifed it is not manufactured. However too ined this case they were obsolete before ever they got to a place to be maked ined numbers be cause the JET age was just getting going and they cand get jets for that job and cheaper to keept up and run. Many times this way of doing stuff did hurted them more thened help them but they did this all over and massively to ALL types of equipment. They did bull dozed hundreds and hundreds of Jeep’s into pits with HUGED tool kits and others stuff as generators and fire trucks and even some of guns. Then would sprays corroding powders all over them and the put on 4 or 5 feet of dirt covering. Ined less thened a year they were. All useless stuff. They said they did wrecked the Jeep’s be cause did Jeep’s makers haved a no competing contract so they did haved to be wrecked so they cand sell new Jeep’s to civilians. They did that withed thousands of cars and trucks and halfed tracks and air planes. My grand father said it he watched them to taked every tools kit and any thing of metal or wood and they bull dozed a huge trench alonged a air army forces field and then pushed all they new stuff right into the ground and bury it. Every thing whiched could be used by others as tools and Jeep’s. Especially they did it any where at where the Russians would be moving ined to there.

[@jacobsparry8525]

I forgot it too, all so a lot of stuff did came backed to the USA too. My grand father buyed 4 ex-armys halfed tracks and they did used them for mining. And too after my father keept setting the tall grass and wild wheats on to fire ined our orchards as did he tryd to blow uped grounds squirrels dens be cause did they wrecked and killed many of ours almonds trees and walnuts trees by eated the roots. So he put ined to their huge ground holes gas and 1/2 sticks of dynamites and a longed fuse. When did they blow uped it did to killed all the squirrels but too steed the tall dry grasses on fire and the fire department sended them big bills so my grand father brought home a brush fires truck and a halfed track fromed his army surplus yard. He told my father you boys do start them so now on you put them out too’ And yes all ready do i know it i do writed diffrenter. I haved a very bad of fosters father at when was i at 11 and he turned to be a vile evil pedophile. When did I say I will tell cops on him , him and his firend tryd for beated me for deathed. They did to cracked my head and i geted a TBI and barked my radials orbits and ribs an stuff. I haved to haved brains opiration to lived and now do i haved Aphasias damagings ined my brains and i amed muted and i haved troubles to writed normals. Sorry ifed you cand not readed it goodly.

[@johnkelinske1449]

@@jacobsparry8525 In some cases it is required by the way the original contract was written. The Vought XF5U is a prime example.

[@jacobsparry8525]

@@johnkelinske1449 Did you read the second of line of my postings? “ They haved ined the contracts that ifed they are not created or moved into manufactering then they wrecked them for several of reasons. “. Very waste full of our government.

[@rwfetterman2546]

Well done. The plane rivals the 'Connie' in the looks department with the performance and capabilities that would really helped 4 years earlier...

[@richardm3023]

That's the key isn't it. It was four years too late, and obsolete when it flew it's first test flight.

[@hertzair1186]

I’m begging for some injection molding kit company to please produce one of these in at least 1/144 or 1/72 scale. I know there are resin versions, but I’d rather do polystyrene. Great informative video Mike, many never seen photos! Obviously the jets made the Rainbow obsolete, but I could see one advantage of the Rainbow over jets...it’s relatively high cruise speed and range, but with much lower landing speeds... enabling it to land at most all airports, thus giving it great flexibility, as compared to the early runway-eating jets.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks, and I'd love to see a good 1/72-scale plastic kit also! Had a resin one years ago (Griffin, I believe?), but cracks started at the wing root after only a few months.

[@hertzair1186]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 and I believe Anigrand makes a resin version as well. I’m hoping perhaps Roden, MikroMir or Amodel from the Ukraine will produce one, as they seem to embrace molding rare aircraft.

[@williamgrimberg2510]

Worked in a custom molding company in the seventies and one client we molded for was Revell . We molded many of their planes , ships, and cars . The Revell molds even for that time were pretty spendy and probably even more so today. There might be a company out of the country that maybe would produce these, but since this aircraft never was in full production, only a few older people may remember this aircraft and the market would probably be extremely small therefore not profitable to produce . Maybe a company that produces the specialized models out of wood like the ones you would see on a executive desk .

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

@@williamgrimberg2510 Great comment, thanks Bill!

[@mthury4532]

Well done. Another Long Island produced aircraft. The hangar with the original control tower was Beechcraft East. Worked there in the early 80’s

[@utubejdaniel8888]

Mike, thanks for the history on the Rainbow. I knew little about this aircraft and your summary was great.

[@geraldtrudeau3223]

Good video, thank you. I've never found this much information on this particular airplane. Also you're right, it is one of the most beautiful, aesthetically pleasing aircraft ever built.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks! (With apologies for this late reply.)

[@DavidBrown-cp2vm]

Thoroughly enjoyed this. Many thanks. ( I used to like to think that I knew a little bit of aviation history but now, in recent years, I know that I knew 0.005% of bugger all ! )

[@leftcoaster67]

Great presentation. Far better than some other sites that don't do a good job on research.

[@johnosbourn4312]

Yes, even better than Dark Skies!

[@SR951159753357]

what a beauty

[@josephstevens9888]

The XR-12 Rainbow was indeed a beautiful aircraft. I'm not surprised that the prototype survived its belly landing virtually intact; Republic Aircraft had a reputation through the years of building tough airplanes; P-47, F-84, F-105, and A-10. It is interesting that both Long Island aircraft manufacturers - Republic and Grumman - built tough, reliable flying machines that could take a beating and still keep flying!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Great comment, thanks!

[@sundar999]

The Republic Seabee could take a beating too!

[@soaringvulture]

You need to have that attitude. Farmingdale is real near New York City. Only the tough survive.

[@handy335]

A very well done documentary. Thank you!

[@hawkertyphoon4537]

what an awesome presentation! Well chosen subject presented with detail, in context and focussed on the technicalities - devoid of politics. i might have mentioned the onboard dark-room earlierin the video, to emphasize the advantage over the F-15. Well done - what a creation, by the same company that brought us the "Jug".

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment - many thanks!

[@MartinMcAvoy]

This is the first video of yours I have seen, Mike and I enjoyed it very much. Great presentation on a fabulous aircraft!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks Martin!

[@merlin51h84]

Excellent video. I knew of this magnificent aircraft but never in such detail and with wonderful photos. Great work!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@HotSpace2007DaveB]

What a beautiful, unknown plane ♥️ Thank you for the excellent video 👍

[@mjw1955]

Mike,. your CA reports just get better by the day. That was one of the prettiest airplanes ever made.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Many thanks!

[@stevecausey545]

Thank you for this post. I really knew nothing about this aircraft, except that she was lovely, of course. I really enjoy your posts, and this one covered all new territory for me. I didn't know about the Hughes aircraft either... Excellent work, as always!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks Steve!

[@stevesstrings5243]

Good info, Mike! Compared to your other videos, it looks like this one has gone viral! Well done!

[@thelovertunisia]

I know it sounds awkward but I always loved propeller aircraft, especially piston powered ones.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks for the comment, and there are many of us who love the classic propliners! (With apologies for this late reply.)

[@jnhumble]

Excellent presentation with speech at normal speed - my mother tongue is not English so I do appreciate the 'lounge' way of telling the story!🙂

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Many thanks!

[@muskepticsometimes9133]

Good video with some images I've never seen before

[@robertbarnes2037]

In my opinion, the Rainbow and the DeHavilland Hornet are the best looking piston powered aircraft ever built. The tidbit on the nacelles being the same shape as a P-47 fuselage was something that never occurred to me. Similarly, the Grumman F7F Tigercat's Nacelles, leading edge inlets and wing root areas have a strong resemblance to the F8F Bearcat's wing root area. One very, very, very, minor issue; the F-15 Reporter was a derivation of the P-61 Black Widow, which was a night fighter, not a bomber (oh boy, a Mr. Know-it-all...). Looking forward to your next presentation!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks for your comment, and yes, I know the Northrop P-61 was a night fighter. That's why I said "...range of converted bombers, or in this case the P-61 Black Widow..."

[@palhein-reim7430]

This is just a real nice production - good info presented in a really compelling way. Thanks for putting it together.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@jimmbbo]

Excellent review of an obscure airplane. I knew about the Rainbow but had no knowledge of the depth of its history. Well done! Subscribed!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks, and 'glad to have you onboard!

[@HRradness]

Stumbled across your channel Mike. As a fellow (amateur) aviation artist I have always enjoyed and admired your work. As a (professional) pilot Im really glad I came across your channel. Never knew this aircraft existed. You can see where the republic plant used to be on the north side of the Farming dale/Republic airport on Long island. It's a shopping mall now. Great video!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@jeremyfdavies]

Great video. Well narrated, filled with facts and with excellent visuals.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Many thanks!

[@chriswilliams5498]

Really enjoyed this clip. Thanks

[@Taffeyboy]

Thanks for an excellent production!

[@rileycpo]

So unfortunate this aircraft never made it to production. WE, as American's never stop! Always striving to push the limits and improve. These were all homegrown American companies with great vision. It's funny you mentioned Fairchild. The Company is gone, but the A-10 is still hammering it out!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Great comment, thanks!

[@lucrolland7489]

Thanks for this great video reportage. This is amazing since I have loads of Janes books about aviation and I never read about those two discussed here. Great designs indeed.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks! (With apologies for this late reply.)

[@rileysteve]

Thank you for sharing this. I have a copy of the "Engineering Aspects of the Development of the Rainbow" By Alexander Kartveli dated July 18, 1946.

[@bertg.6056]

A great presentation, Mike. I love your artwork !! And thanks for the very lucid narration.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@bogdanradulescu870]

A very sleek and sexy bird, thumb up and subscribed...looking forward to look at your videos.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Many thanks!

[@rwelebny1]

Mike, What a pleasure to have 'discovered' you after all these years. I was an instructor at Sig's and was fortunate enough to have received a beautiful drawing from you, of me with a student in a 150, just clearing the wires landing to the east. Much of my career involved flying machines set up like the XR-12, obtaining precision imagery on assignments all over the world. We never had a darkroom on board. Same cameras though, as well as more modern ones from Wild and Zeiss. I have subscribed, and look forward to enjoying whatever you might put forth.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Wow Ron - thanks and I remember that drawing!!! That 150 was N2422J (green-and-white?) with Sig Uldert's little office in the background. Astonishing! So glad you had a career in aviation, and sounds like you had some great flying experiences. I'm posting a retrospective video tonight and will be talking about Zahn's. Small world, and all the best to you!

[@1teamski]

Great video! Thanks! That was really informative.

[@boydgrandy5769]

It looks like it shares many features of the Japanese recon version of the Mitsubishi KI-46, also considered one of the most beautiful airframes ever to fly. Scaled up to 4 engines, of course, but the overall impression is that the KI-46 was the older sister of the XR-12.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks for watching!

[@Kevin15301]

You make a very professional and informative video Mike Great job First video of yours that I have watched - not the last!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@letsseeif]

Thanks for the fine video on The Republic Rainbow, an intriguing aircraft I followed as a boy in Australia. In 2021, as ETOPS trumps the Jumbos, I wonder what the future holds. thanks again.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks for your comment! (With apologies for this late reply.)

[@PappyGunn]

Nice video. I've been in aviation since 1979. Thought I knew it all. Never heard of this aicraft. Thank you for investigating this aircraft.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@michaelsteiger8509]

Mike, as usual, you are the best representation of aviation in the past, present and future…

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@georgegennuso]

Great presentation Mike. Looking forward to your next one.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks George!

[@marekstanek112]

A real beauty. Scrapping them instead of sending them to museums is a crime.

[@lucasdeaver9192]

She's beautiful, I've never seen her before. I've been to Republic Airport museum many times but I didn't know they had done that kind of research there.

[@mthury4532]

If you go over to the terminal on the other side of the field, there’s pictures of the Rainbow. Cradle of Aviation has model of it.

[@melvyncox3361]

Shame this did not see service.A real stunner with so much potential!

[@adamhay2798]

Thanks, Mike. What a cool aircraft! The design is kind of reminiscent of the old Bugatti aircraft but on a much larger scale. Having an onboard dark room was pretty forward thinking for the time. I remember the Hughes design, but did not know about this contract competitor. Super video!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks Adam!

[@bryanwyatt7430]

Mike, very nice video. I just stumbled across your channel, and I'm glad I did. I have your book on this subject, and it is outstanding. It is a fascinating look at a little known, but incredible airplane. Keep up the good work! Cheers.

[@MrRandomcommentguy]

That has got to the most beautiful four engined plane ever

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Agreed!

[@StuPony111]

Amazing story told with authority and pace

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks, and appreciate the comment!

[@paulkieran2308]

Nice video. Very informative and nostalgic for me since I grew up not far from Republic.

[@mycroft1905]

Very interesting history. Thank you.

[@mickolszewski2520]

Great Video, Great Intel, Coverage, & I'll Look Forward To Your Output In The Future.! SO, THANK YOU, & KEEP ON The GREAT WORK.! !

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@martinda7446]

A beautiful aircraft, and you made a point that the car pictured behind it showed how far we advanced in such a short time...You then showed the B-47 which flew a year after the Rainbow. The B-47 still looks like perfection and in it was every conceivable advancement in aircraft technology and a little bit more added by Boeing. I think that aircraft was truly one of the greatest and sort of an overlooked aircraft these days. Look at it! Those wings were ground-breaking 😸(Thanks again German scientists). This was a great video. Subscribed.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks for the comment, and great to have you aboard as a subscriber!

[@WolfeSaber]

The B-47 had six engines. The image you saw had four. Unless you were talking about the image at the end.

[@framusburns-hagstromiii808]

Wow that design looks so fast and futuristic ....until you look at the tail.....one has to wonder how it would have performed with a more streamlined tail section. Thanks for a very informative presentation.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Interesting point, thanks, and that vertical stabilizer was essentially a scaled-up F-84 Thunderjet empennage that proved to be aerodynamically efficient on the smaller jet.