This Day in Aviation History

February 4th, 1946
First flight of the Republic XF-12 Rainbow.

The Republic XF-12 Rainbow was an American four-engine, all-metal prototype reconnaissance aircraft designed by the Republic Aviation Company in the late 1940s. Like most large aircraft of the era, it used radial engines—in this case, the Pratt & Whitney R-4360 “Wasp Major.” The aircraft was designed with maximum aerodynamic efficiency in mind. The XF-12 was referred to as an aircraft that was “flying on all fours” meaning: four engines, 400 mph cruise, 4,000 mile range, at 40,000 feet. Although highly innovative, the postwar XF-12 Rainbow had to compete against more modern jet engine technology and did not enter production….

Source:
Wikipedia, Republic XF-12 Rainbow:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_XF-12_Rainbow

YouTube, Republic XF-12 Rainbow & Douglas C-74 Globemaster – 1946:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnIAgbs-nQU

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