Republic XP-69

The Republic XP-69 was an American fighter proposed by Republic Aviation in 1941 in response to an Army Air Corps requirement for a high-speed fighter, in a competition where manufacturers were encouraged to consider unorthodox designs. Republic was one of six companies selected, and one of its proposals was the AP-12 Rocket, to be powered by a 2,500 hp Wright R-2160-3 Tornado 42-cylinder liquid-cooled radial engine mounted behind the cockpit in a streamlined, cigar-shaped fuselage and driving a pair of contra-rotating propellers. The AP-12 placed 13th of 26 contestants, which forced Republic to improve its proposal. The design was ordered as a prototype but was canceled because of delays with the R-2160 engine, in favor of the parallel Republic XP-72.