Vultee XP-54 Swoose Goose resulted from United States Army Air Corps proposal R-40C issued on 27 November 1939 for aircraft with improved performance, armament, and pilot visibility over existing fighters; it specifically allowed for unconventional aircraft designs. Also designed to this request were the Curtiss XP-55 Ascender and the Northrop XP-56 Black Bullet.
Initially designed as a low-altitude interceptor, this was changed to a high-altitude interceptor. The resulting addition of a pressurized cockpit led to a unique pilot entry method, where the seat acted as an elevator. The seat was lowered and raised electrically while the pilot at it it. Bail out was also complicated by the pusher propellors and a downward firing ejector seat was installed.
Two prototypes were built (41-1210 and 42-108994, although the second was wrongly marked 42-1211). Performance fell short of design expectations, which combined with project delays and increased costs led to its cancellation. Both aircraft saw out their days as experimental airframes until a lock of spare parts led to their grounding.
Vultee XP-54Vultee XP-54Vultee XP-54 Vultee XP-54 front viewVultee XP-54 first prototypeVultee XP-54 first prototypeVultee XP-54 41-1210Vultee XP-54 first prototypeVultee XP-54 first prototype undergoing maintenanceVultee XP-54 41-1210Vultee XP-54 first prototypeVultee XP-54 first prototypeVultee XP-54 Swoose Goose first prototypeVultee XP-54 second prototypeVultee XP-54 Swoose Goose second prototypeVultee XP-54 42-1211 (actually 42-108994)Vultee XP-54 second prototypeVultee XP-54 second prototypeVultee XP-54 41-1211 (actually 42-108994)Vultee XP-54 second prototypeVultee XP-54 with propellor safety guard in placeVultee XP-54 entry hatchVultee XP-54 entry hatchVultee XP-54Vultee XP-54 Swoose Goose line drawing
The Republic XF-12 Rainbow was a four-engined reconnaissance aircraft designed for the USAAF. Designed during the Second World War, the first of two prototypes had its first flight on the 4th of February 1946.
On the 10th of July 1947, the first prototype had its right main gear severed at the engine nacelle while landing during maximum load tests. The aircraft bounced and the pilot took the aircraft up to a safe altitude. During the resulting crash landing, the right wing spar was cracked and the two starboard engines needed replacing. Republic repaired the XF-12 and it was returned to service.
The second prototype crashed on the 7th of November 1948 when the port inner engine exploded, causing violent buffeting. Five of the seven crew escaped safely while two crew members were killed.
With the end of the Second World War and the introduction of jet aircraft, the USAAF lost interest in the project. When no orders were received, flight testing of the remaining XF-11 was wound down and ceased in 1952.
Republic proposed an airliner version of the XF-12, called the RC-2. Although tentative interest was shown by several airlines, the projected operating costs were higher than competing aircraft and no RC-2s were built.
Full-scale mock-up of the XF-12Republic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 Rainbow under constructionRepublic XF-12 Rainbow under constructionRepublic XF-12 Rainbow Nose Secion MockupRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 Rainbow taking offRepublic XF-12 Rainbow 44-91002Republic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 RainbowRepublic XF-12 Rainbow Nacelle Republic XF-12 Rainbow NacelleRepublic XF-12 Rainbow NacelleRepublic XF-12 Rainbow first prototype accident 10 July 1947The first Republic XF-12 Rainbow prototype after crash-landing with two out of three gear down. It was later repaired and put back into the airRepublic XF-12 Rainbow first prototype accident 10 July 1947Republic XF-12 Rainbow, RC-3 Seabee and P-47 ThunderboltRepublic XF-12 Rainbow, RC-3 Seabee and P-47 ThunderboltRepublic XF-12 Rainbow camera installationRepublic XF-12 Rainbow undercarriageRepublic RC-2 Rainbow advertRepublic RC2 Rainbow cutaway diagramRepublic RC-2 Rainbow cockpit mockup
Lufthansa commenced operations with the Junkers Ju 86B commercial airliner in June 1936 with the delivery of the V2 and V4 prototypes. The V4 was originally given the name Dresden, but when it was decided to name all of the Ju 86s after mountains it was renamed to Brocken. After initial operations with DLH (Deutsche Lufthansa), both prototypes were handed back to Junkers in December 1936.
After being re-engined with BMW 132 Dc radial engines the V4 was returned to DLH in June 1937. On the 18th of June that year it crashed due to pilot error near Hamburg. Deliveries of 12 production Ju 86Bs continued until 1937 with and additional aircraft delivered in 1939.
With the outbreak of war all of Lufthansa’s Ju 86Bs were transferred to the Luftwaffe. However, on 30 June 1944, eight aircraft were chartered from the Luftwaffe so that civilian flights routes could be kept open.
Junkers Ju 86V-4 D-AREVJunkers Ju 86V-4 D-AREVJunkers Ju 86V-4 D-AREV DresdenJunkers Ju 86V-4 D-AREV DresdenJunkers Ju 86V-4 D-AREV now renamed BrockenJunkers Ju 86V-4 D-AREV BrockenJunkers Ju 86V-4 D-AREVJunkers Ju 86V-4 D-AREV BrockenJunkers Ju 86V-4 D-AREV Brocken with Hitler’s personal Ju 52 D-2600 and a Polish De-2 SP-ASKJunkers Ju 86B-05 D-AQER InselbergJunkers Ju 86B-1 D-AXEQ BuckebergJunkers Ju 86B-0Junkers Ju 86B-05 D-AQER Inselberg approaching BerlinJunkers Ju 86 B-0 airliners, Feldberg and D-ALOZ Zugspitze. Further back is Ju 160 D-UHIL Kreuzfuchs
