The Glass-Nosed XF-12 Rainbow

During World War 2, Republic Aviation was best known for creating the world-famous P-47 Thunderbolt fighter aircraft. But by the end of the War, one of the company's lesser-known but most beautiful projects, the stunning XF-12 Rainbow, was in the works.
The XF-12 was born from a mid-war Request for Proposal. The U.S Army required a high-performance and high-altitude photo reconnaissance aircraft to fly reconnaissance missions over Japan and its home island fortresses.
Although highly innovative and visually stunning with a clear glass nose-cone, the XF-12 Rainbow arrived too late to join the war effort. The aircraft was made obsolete by more modern jet engine technology. Although two successful prototypes were built, it never entered formal production. Whatever impact the XF-12 might have had in the War was ruined by bad timing.

[@Tim_Tomorrow]

It amazes me how many aircraft ideas made it from the design table to the sky, only to be cast aside due to timing or something.

[@dakufaust]

Have you heard of the Rotodyne?

[@Tim_Tomorrow]

@@dakufaust...go on.

[@padawan-fd2jx]

@@Tim_Tomorrow Google it... it’s sort of the ultimate story of “wrong place, wrong time”

[@Armin2012]

And to think, all that money gets sunk into these kinds of projects

[@strelnikoff7]

@@Armin2012 yes, because there was a war to be won and the economy of the country was directed to achieve that. It all depends on motives and available tools and technology. At the time, a lot of the designs were first attempts without any precedents - and with limited time to experiment. Prototypes were designed to be as close to “fit-for-purpose” as possible. Most iterations were created based on the feedback from real use in the field. These days things are different - unless something fundamentally different is attempted.

[@connormclernon26]

I really wish this aircraft could have been preserved for future generations to see.

[@sim.frischh9781]

Agreed. Especially since it would have been a capable spotting plane for non-military use as well, like forest fire observation and such. But they probably chose cheaper, simpler planes for that.

[@gunterg7309]

@@sim.frischh9781 its speed and range are not a requirement when you aren't at risk of being shot down

[@sim.frischh9781]

@@gunterg7309 Yes, hence the simpler, cheaper plane choice. My point was more "it would have been a task this plane could fill so it won´t just get lost to history".

[@nos9784]

@@sim.frischh9781 They did use it to map the United States- completely!- in only three overflights, if I remember rightly. Wikipedia knows more. Sadly, there were so many B-29 around, nobody really needed this plane, when you could just mod a 29 to do the same without the complexity of having another type of airplane.

[@sim.frischh9781]

@@nos9784 Yes, that was mentioned, that was the project, i forgot the name...

[@kyrlchristianboni5263]

now that is a thing of beauty

[@andrewcarlson3486]

It was beautiful but useless

[@jalan8171]

As generals, admirals, businessmen and comedians well know, TIMING is Everything !

[@aurorajones8481]

Fighter pilots and Moto racers thank you! But yes.

[@rolandocrisostomo2003]

The businessmen says money is everything

[@PeterOekvist]

Automotive engineers also know it

[@re-agent9364]

Also watch-makers

[@fobbitoperator3620]

[laughs in Rodney Dangerfield]

[@jcmount1305]

XF-12 has long been one of my favorite planes and what I consider to me most one of the beautiful.

[@grahamhufton7715]

those lines. so beautiful

[@dakufaust]

Sad how many great aircraft/projects that were canceled due to funds, timing, or other reasons.

[@josephgehring919]

I give you the CH56 Cheyenne

[@a315417]

@@josephgehring919 F-20 Tigershark was a heartbreaker for me. Loved that jet.

[@arthas640]

Now we gave the opposite problem where the annual GDP of a medium sized nation is sunk into designing a single jet

[@garyodle5663]

Very interesting. Twenty-seven years in the Air Force and I never heard of it.

[@bikerfirefarter7280]

that worries me. your area of specialisation, and you are not aware of knowledge in the public domain? are you safe and responsible?

[@bikerfirefarter7280]

@Sparky Puddins aw, touchy. i wasn't being condescending, i was commenting on his admitted ignorance. regarding your example, after 27 years i would expect them to at least have heard of basic and major prototypes even from recent eras that had been investigated to address a problem/need in their field or might appear in theater. its just common sense to brief yourself by skimming available info in your own area. to not do it is careless and naive. to fail to notice it when it's in the public domain is cretinous. i am not expecting intimate knowledge of specific trebuchets etc, but the principles of them go back past the roman era, all 27-years service soldiers should at least have heard of them, and the principles of 'muzzel-loaders' are the forefathers of today's weapons. every soldier knows of plenty of types. what 'soldier' of 27-years service doesn't at least know of all the types of weapons/ordnance/tested-techniques they might encounter? probably the surprised dead ones. and i had heard of it. so don't make assumptions. who are you? his mommy?

[@jackli1662]

@@bikerfirefarter7280 something from over 60 years ago??? Potential weapons they may encountered??????? If our soldiers spend their time reading history archive instead of flying the most recent fighters and training for future missions I am really concerned 🤓 stop being a hater, get some help

[@bikerfirefarter7280]

@@jackli1662 not being a hater, just pointing out that whatever your profession you need to understand the basic history of it or you will be at a distinct disadvantage sooner or later, I'm not saying they have to re-invent the wheel, or become a history nut, but they should have skimmed how/what/why otherwise they are just blindly following a procedure and will not know why/how they failed. a similar situation occurs when a well trained martial artist gets beaten by a streetwise novice, flashy/involved techniques are easily bypassed by someone with a rock and/or steel toecaps. if someone can't take feedback/critisism they are mentally blinkered. i don't need 'help', thanks.

[@jackli1662]

@@bikerfirefarter7280 guess u never served before right, that’s not how it works lol

[@MrRandomcommentguy]

That plane is just absolutely beautiful

[@bassmith448bassist5]

Never even heard of this airplane. Would havebeen cool to see this with turboprops.

[@Rob.DB.]

...or jets! ?

[@FQP-7024]

Imagine a quad, double rotor design

[@whlanteigne]

@Sparky Puddins Four 28-cylinder, 4-row radial "corncob" engines with two turbos per engine (8 turbochargers total); just behind the prop, in front of the engine, was a cooling fan turning 70% faster than the prop; behind the engines were cooling slots instead of conventional shutters, to reduce drag. At the end of the long~ish engine nacelles were rather large ports from which escaping exhaust and cooling air provided some additional thrust. The airliner variant would have had only one turbo per engine. About five years too late to make a difference in the war. Not Republic's fault, they did an incredible job.

[@trespire]

Never heard of this plane, it's lines are very elegant. The clean fuselage reminds me of the Constalation's shape.

[@TheStig_TG]

Ah the L-1049 Super connie

[@57thStIncident]

Wow, that plane is gorgeous and cool. Had never seen this one, thanks for sharing this.

[@twoofuswearingraincoats34]

Rainbow was one sweet aircraft. Pushed the limits of piston engine technology. republic utilized "ejector" exhaust principles that were being developed at the time. Look carefully at this aircraft and you wont see typical exhaust stacks. You will see what looks like a jet exhaust at the end of each cowling. Heated air coming from the cooling system combined with exhaust thrust was vectored through a jet type outlet. This resulted in a thrust value of about 200 extra hp per engine. Brilliant aircraft.

[@davidgifford8112]

A truly breathtaking aircraft. Thanks for bringing to our attention, sad such a capable design didn’t see service.

[@Dv087]

Definitely beautiful. Never seen this aircraft. Thanks for coniualaly show info I never knew.

[@cyclingnerddelux698]

Stunning aircraft. Super episode as always. Big fan here in Austria.

[@hertzair1186]

The Rainbow is absolutely the most beautiful propeller aircraft ever flown. The DeHavilland DH.91 Albatross being a close second.

[@MrErdner]

At 10:17 is an aerial view of Pittsburgh, my home town. It's amazing how easily identifiable some landmarks are, and others are totally changed.

[@adamfrazer5150]

I'd never heard of this (familiar sensation when watching Dark haha), pretty amazing plane - not only the photography equipment, some sort of flare launcher for illumination BUT also a dark room to process the film ? It may have been before it's time, but what an achievement - and a looker too ! The front end reminds me, in a way, of the front of the Victor bomber. Fascinating coverage, many thanks Dark 👍🍻

[@abhimanyugupta1989]

I've been watching your videos for the last few months, and believe me, it's the best thing that has happened to me

[@steve0592]

For balance, the Japanese had an equally streamlined & beautiful twin engined medium range reconnaissance plane, code named the Dinah.

[@firefightergoggie]

That is one FINE looking aircraft. Gorgeous.

[@Nawojczyk]

I may have dreamed this, but I’m pretty sure when I was a kid living on Okinawa with my family, our father was in the Air Force, that I built a model of this plane. The nose cone is what spurred my memory. We lived there in 62 and 63.

[@rodneydaub3812]

I'm so burned out of Discovery Wings series, glad I found this.

[@athelwulfgalland]

I had never heard of this aircraft prior to this video - which is actually very surprising for me! Thank you very much for sharing this video on an obviously seldom described or mentioned aircraft.

[@TheAmazingCowpig]

After the XB-46 video, I was wondering a few days ago if the channel would make a video on the XF-12 Rainbow! Very cool that it actually got a video sooner than I expected. Shame that this aircraft didn't survive to a museum. Fun fact: each engine nacelle was apparently as long as a P-47 Thunderbolt, which can be seen in one of the pictures close to the end of the video.

[@KD2HJP]

I grew up in the Town of Babylon, Long Island NY Home of Republic Avaition The hangers had the best flea market in the 70's. The Urbex we did there, and all over that area before realistic cameras were available, was amazing

[@SIXPACFISH]

My uncle was a photographers mate in the Navy. He flew in PB4Y-2's over Japan and changed the film cans in the cameras. He had big boxes of 2 foot square photos he took over Japanese Cities. He had before and after shots of Tokyo, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki. This plane looks like a much nicer ride than the Consolidated.

[@Yeah-right-2024]

I'm starting to really like this channel...(in a very monotone kind of way.)

[@sonnyburnett8725]

Oh that’s perfect.....

[@tboda2621]

He sounds like he's got a hot tip on something for just $20.

[@marshallwatson1097]

Excellent aerial photo of Pittsburgh!

[@chriscarbaugh3936]

Your short stories are getting better and better :) ... thank you!

[@opagev2107]

Now that scene from “The Aviator” has some history behind it

[@TRONABORON]

This plane still one of the most beautiful!

[@drstevenrey]

That thing is achingly beautiful. It even beats my other favorite the Constellation.

[@g.a.c.4139]

One-hundred-twelve cylinders of prop-pounding power, and sexy looks that could kill. The US Air Force should have built a fleet just for bragging rights alone. There must have been a lot of disappointed people when this baby was cancelled...unfortunately, the "Rainbow" became the "Rain Maker". It may be a 'forgotten' plane, but I'll remember this one. Hey Dark Skies, thanks for presenting this, I love it!

[@secondamendment8773]

Great idea having a photo lab onboard. That way most if not all the photos would br ready by the time the plane landed.

[@andrewtaylor940]

While the Rainbow came too late to go into full production or enter war service, where it did shine was as a Proof of Concept. Remember this was the first purpose built reconnaissance aircraft. The amazing capabilities of its cameras were the real takeaway. This plane led directly to better known Cold War era planes such as the U2. Oh and Fairchild, the maker of its amazing cameras would eventually purchase Republic. While the last airplane Republic would make would be the long serving A-10 Warthog, most of Fairchild’s business was as a subcontractor to Boeing, Northrop, Grumman etc. making major components for a long range of airplanes. F-14 and F-4 Phantom tails. B-52 body and tail sections, etc. Even the Space Shuttle’s control surfaces. Keep in mind the Rainbow was ordered before the B-29 entered service. While the Rainbow’s camera capabilities were enormous, the B-29 proved to be an extremely capable long range Pacific Recon platform. In spite of Curtiss LeMay’s open contempt about using his precious bombers for anything other than dropping bombs. While the camera gear was nowhere near that of the Rainbow, it could be moved between planes by in theater mechanics. And the recon aircraft shared the same parts and maintenance chain as the bombers. The problem with purpose built reconnaissance aircraft is that they are generally built in small numbers. And are fairly unique oddballs when it comes to parts and maintenance.

[@DraconX3]

What a beautiful plane, and so much untapped potential.

[@queasyislander0274]

Please upload more often if possible I love these videos!!!!!

[@jordanchilds5131]

Love the content.. as usual. Thank you

[@bluetopguitar1104]

Passed up by the jet age and overwhelming production from the United States. What a gorgeous airplane.

[@recoilrob324]

Nice report on a beautiful aircraft! Just imagine the maintenance on 4 28 cyl engines....uh. Got to do a sparkplug change.....you take 224 plugs out with you! This is partly why jet engines took over...more fuel consumption but WAY less and easier maintenance.

[@Labarynthtube]

Thankyou

[@Cherb123456]

Such a beautiful Airplane, if I had the money I would build one just for the sake of it existing and flying! What a beauty!

[@kyotokid4]

...indeed a beautiful aircraft. for it's day. 435 MPH cruise (maximum speed of 470 mph) with radials it's 44,000' service ceiling and it's 4,500 mile range were phenomenal. A passenger version would have been definitely been interesting as its performance was better than any airliner in service at the time (even turboprops) and only bettered by the troubled de Havilland Comet 1 in speed with a cruise of 460 mph ( just 25 mph faster) though carried about the same number of passengers. However the early Comets (series 1 and 2) could not match the RC-2 in range and therefore the Comet was not seen on the North Atlantic market until the model 4 (2,800 mi range still 1,,200 miles shy of the RC-2) was introduced in 1958. So until the 707 and DC-8 entered service the RC-2 Rainbow would have sort have been the "Concorde" of its day offering unprecedented speed comfort, and range as well as the ability to fly above most weather (an interesting note, both the RC-2 and Concorde have the roughly the same range and rate of climb but The RC2 would make the same flight with 1/5th the fuel).

[@aarongriffith4993]

them some good facts bruv!

[@balham456]

Beautiful

[@roberthill3207]

You have out done yourself with this one.

[@allgood6760]

Thanks 👍

[@neilcheng4429]

Love your commentary and every documentary u make and upload thanks Again please can u tell me and include the background sountracks in all your videos by reply or in description

[@billjamison2877]

It's beyond belief that so many prototype and unique aircraft went to the crusher and not preserved for future generations to see and appreciate.

[@billb1860]

Great vid, thanks! BTW, that sure looks like Pittsburgh PA at 7:56

[@jehoiakimelidoronila5450]

Related fact: the engine nacelles are around the same size as the P-47. So essentially, you got a plane pulled through the sky by 4 Thunderbolts

[@machtschnell7452]

Never saw this one before. Thank you.

[@RuskiWaffle]

I first heard of this thing in a website called weapons and warfare. It's so goddamn beautiful.

[@73THUNDERDOME73]

You’re awesome Dark Skies 🖤

[@johnharris6655]

Saying Howard Hughes crashed is an understatement. That is like saying we dropped a couple of matches on Dressden. Hughes Crashed into 3 houses in Beverly Hills, destroying one completely. Hughes suffered injuries that nearly killed him and effected him for the rest of his life.

[@richardmontana5864]

The engine nacelles are much like the XP-72 . Very tight cowling with spinners for great streamlining and keeping frontal area drag to minimum. There are fans behind the spinners for additional engine cooling and exhaust exiting thru ejector stacks giving it a thrust effect. This would have made a great bird in many roles.

[@rogerpenske2411]

Ignore the nut cases. Your diction, pace, and tone are perfect for the atmosphere that you want to achieve. AKA, I get it.

[@uzaiyaro]

I can't help wondering if this came just a little later and could've been powered either by turboprops (i think there were some early props?) or turbojets, then it would've gone down a hell of a lot differently and been a pretty stunning aircraft. Edit: Yeah, having a look, the Rolls Royce dart was the first seriously mass produced turboprop, having been first run in 1946, although it was nowhere near powerful enough at the time.

[@robertguttman1487]

One problem with the Rainbow was that it was a large and expensive aircraft designed to preform a single, highly-specialized function. As a result, even if the Army Air Force had ordered it into production, they would probably not have ordered very many of them because they probably would not have required very many of them. For example, after Lockheed spent a great deal of time and expense developing the famous SR-71 "Blackbird" reconnaissance plane, the program only resulted in a total production run of about 30 aircraft. The presenter also notes that, if the Rainbow had appeared two years earlier, it almost certainly would have seen action during WW-II. However, the fact is that the type of engine used in the Rainbow, the P&W R-4360 engine, simply was not available two years earlier. In fact, Republic also built a version of their P-47 Thunderbolt single-seat fighter powered by the same R-4360, which would have been one of the fastest and most capable piston-engine fighters ever flown. However, due to the fact that the R-4360 engine was not yet available, that aircraft also appeared too late. In fact, by the time it was ready to be test flown, Republic was already developing their jet-powered P-84 Thunderjet fighter, which rendered any performance improvements that the R-4360 engine bestowed upon the P-47 Thunderbolt completely irrelevant.

[@matthewwilliams2709]

Dam another bird I’d never herd of and it’s gorgeous looking to

[@sski]

That would have been a game-changer if it was developed a few years earlier.

[@richardmollberg3096]

Theres something romantic about his plane, the shape and cockpit. "Hughs was notorious unreliable", according to The Aviator, yes. But thats probably why they made a movie about him. :)

[@harveydenver8348]

Another excellent subject. Thank you!

[@NexeL_NKC]

Just imagine this beauty redesigned with swept wings and modern jet engines. I think we’d have possibly the most beautiful aircraft ever.

[@dawnsparrow4477]

Nice video about XF-12 rainbow 🌈 bomber for US airforces in addition of its specifically designed for bombing 💣 also designed for taking photos in ground targets...excellent explained of its characteristics of this bomber after 2WW

[@METALMISFIT6]

I absolutely love these videos

[@flyingtigerline]

Really enjoyed this video !!!

[@BusterBuizel]

Quite a Dashing Rainbow honestly

[@leinie6683]

I guess when it comes to war planes - its a good thing many were never needed

[@davidprince1138]

Beautiful piece of machinery.

[@shinvelcro]

The footage of it flying at the start makes me think of the english electric canberra, think its the wing shape.

[@foreverpinkf.7603]

What a beauty.

[@экзорцист-н4щ]

Now it's not forgotten...

[@xdlikadam2101]

Holy SHIT those photos taken from the plane are incredible due to its current date. Damn it's so impressive. Technology is awesome tho...

[@Kevin-mx1vi]

I'd love to know how much those photos cost because I used to work for a company that sold photo reconnaissance film. At the time a roll of 12 exposures cost around £800 (so maybe $1000?) Incidentally, its a myth that if a newspaper were laid on the ground you could read it in a spy photo taken from 50,000 feet, but the resolution *was* good enough to read the headlines.

[@xdlikadam2101]

@@Kevin-mx1vi yeah thats another topic actually. But that quaility is awesome ı think. Huge respect for those who work for technology and invent anything...

[@gladski14]

I would love to see an essay on the Dornier 335. Such a unique airplane

[@j.mangum7652]

Hey Dark Skies, I know it might be a sort of short video but try to do a feature on the Republic XF-103 Thunderwarrior mach 3 interceptor. Another interceptor concept that didn't get past the mock up phase because of the ICBM advent.

[@jehoiakimelidoronila5450]

This is my take for a modernized version: the roles are either high altitude weather plane, maritime patrol that could also drop torpedoes, sonar buoys, or depth charges should situation calls. Or turn it to a fast passenger turboprop. Just replace the engines. Planes today are getting slower and slower to save up fuel AND, for the sake of saving money. When I say "slow", I mean they're slower than the ones preceding modern airliners.

[@braininavatnow9197]

I flew these airplanes during the Great War. I was ace pilot war hero. Those airplanes were okay but I like to see 68 better.

[@kingnorlen]

What a beauty 😍

[@rpbajb]

The Rainbow was a "Four fours" aircraft. Four engines, 40,000 ft ceiling, 400+ mph, 4000 mile range.

[@zujiahuang8454]

Wiki says: "When the US Army Air Forces (USAAF) evaluated [the XF-11] against the XF-12, testing revealed the XF-11 was harder to fly and maintain, and projected that it would be twice as expensive to build." Considering the XF-12 uses 4 of the same engines and is twice as heavy, this is quite remarkable...

[@flutter8712]

Take a look at the xf-11, it's a peace of art too

[@LeonelEBD]

Great video, didnt knew about this bird

[@steveshoemaker6347]

Sure was a.....Beautiful aircraft.....Thanks

[@MichaelJones-rn2pq]

I believe that if the Army Air Corps/U.S. Air Force would have made great use of a couple of squadrons of these if they knew that the Cold War was coming. A top speed of 470 mph and cruising speed of 400 mph would have made it hard to intercept, even by Mig-15s.

[@nx9100]

Who needs history channel when you have Dark Skies (and his other 'Dark' channels)

[@Chuck59ish]

That's the way things go during wartime.

[@paddy1952]

Maybe it didn't have "elliptical wings like other fighters", as the somewhat breathless narration states, because it wasn't a fighter.

[@jimsvideos7201]

Wouldn't that be a swanky way to get from A to B in style and some discomfort 🤩

[@loiclaronche5675]

I guess the RC-2 would have been like Concorde for piston aircrafts: faster, higher, but not economically viable. Love the XF-12

[@mostly-harmless]

F for Photography P for Fighter lol

[@machtschnell7452]

P for Pursuit.

[@111zac6]

Nice shot of what I think is Pittsburgh at 7:57

[@lucaspeters2613]

I'm geting b17 vibes

[@abraxaseyes87]

When there were visions behind ideas instead of only profit

[@dcpack]

You do realize that the promise of some profit DROVE those visions, right?

[@abraxaseyes87]

@@dcpack of course, it's behind everything

[@RockerWasRight]

4 giant corncob engines, nightmare to work on! Shame there wasn't an airframe years later for the T-56. That might have put the Electra to shame.

[@aarongriffith4993]

dang she looks elegant

[@SomeOrdinaryJanitor]

why did it have the F designation? was that reserved for fighters, while P or R was used for Recon?

[@robertphillips6296]

Was it scraped or does it still exist today somewhere?

[@rotorheadv8]

Looks like both were wrecked.

[@dandare2586]

Thanks for the upload, I like your channel.