The photos in this edition are black and white. Still the fastest multi-engine piston aircraft ever flown, the Republic XR-12 and its competitor, the Hughes XF-11, were well ahead of their time in 1946. Envisioned as a long-range photo-reconnaissance aircraft with a top speed of more than 450 mph, the Republic XR-12 also offered near jet-like performance for the world's airlines with a 44-passenger commercial version named the Rainbow. Using original Republic photos, data, and artwork, the author reveals never-before-published information about the Rainbow airliner. While the clear emphasis of this book is on the Republic airplane, the Hughes XF-11 is also covered and compared in its role as a twin-engine competitor to the more advanced four-engine Republic airplane.

Overall, not bad
The comparisons to the XF-11 were an inspired idea and help put the aircraft in perspective. The text was fair while the photographs and illustrations are excellent.

The book is too small to cover one aircraft and its potential, but it is a notable effort.
I look forward to more publishing efforts from Mr. Machat. ( )

While I can't consider this book essential, if you're looking for material on one of the most esoteric military aircraft ever built in the United States this might count as a "must-have" work. Besides examining the design process and testing of the Rainbow (not to mention the competition provided by the Hughes XF-11), Machat also gives you a history of Republic Aviation to that point, and how this machine fit into those plans. There is also some consideration about the career the Rainbow might have had, even if rapidly superceded by jet aircraft; mostly in roles otherwise filled by the Lockheed Constellation.

The single biggest surprise to me is that I was not aware that Alexander de Seversky, Republic's original founder, was largely driven out of control of the firm due to USAAF anger over his selling warplanes to Japan; I thought it had been due mostly to an erratic management style.

In anycase, it will be a shame if this book is the swan song of the Specialty Press as a publisher. ( )