CANT Z.506

Infobox Aircraft
name=CANT Z.506 Airone


caption=
type=Patrol aircraft
manufacturer=Cantiere Navali Triestino
designer=
first flight=1935
introduced=1936
retired=1959
status=
primary user=Regia Aeronautica
more users=
produced=
number built=
unit cost=
variants with their own articles=Z.509The CANT Z.506 Airone (Italian: Heron) was a triple engine float plane that served with the Italian Regia Aeronautica during World War II.

Design and development

The CANT Z.506 was designed as a 12 to 14-seat transport twin-float seaplane, powered by three 610hp (455kW) Piaggio Stella IX radial engines. It was derived from the larger and heavier CANT Z.505 mailplane. The Z.506 first flew on 19 August 1935, and entered production in 1936 as the Z.506A, powered by more powerful 750hp (559kW) Alfa Romeo 126 RC 34 radial engines. The Z.506A entered service in 1936 with Ala Littoria, flying on routes around the Mediterranean. The Z.506A set a number of altitude, speed and distance records for its class between 1936 and 1938.

A military version was developed as the Z.506B, powered by 750hp (559kW) Alfa Romeo 127 RC 55 engiones. It entered service in 1939. A larger version of the Z.506A was built in 1937 as the CANT Z.509.

Operational history

The Z.506B was originally used as a torpedo/reconnaissance bomber early in the war, but was pressed into other duties, because of its vulnerability against fighter aircraft. Later in the war, it was used in mostly maritime patrol and air-sea rescue missions. A special air-sea rescue version, the Z.506S Soccorso, was produced; with small numbers being flown by the Luftwaffe. Surviving aircraft served with the Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force after Italy's surrender in 1943 and some examples survived in postwar service until 1959.

Variants

;Z.506:Prototype, one built.;Z.506A:Civil version;Z.506B:Military version, 324 built.;Z.506S:Air-sea rescue version;Z.506 Landplane:One aircraft was converted to a landplane for an attempt by Mario Stoppani on an endurance record, which did not take place to due bad weather.;Z.509:A larger and heavy version of the Z.506B, three built.

Operators

;flag|Germany|Nazi
*Luftwaffe (captured);flag|Italy|1861-state
*Ala Littoria
*Regia Aeronautica
*Regia Marina
*Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force;POL
*Polish Air Force received 1 aircraft out of 6 ordered.;Spain - Nationalist Forces
*Spanish Nationalist Air Force;UK
*Royal Air Force One captured aircraft briefly operated from Malta;Postwar;ITA
*Italian Air Force

pecifications (Z.506B Series XII)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

ref=The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War IIref WW2 | | ]

crew=5
length main=19.24 m
length alt=63 ft 1.5 in
span main=26.50 m
span alt=86 ft 11.3 in
height main=7.45 m
height alt=24 ft 5.3 in
area main=86.26 m²
area alt=928.53 ft²
empty weight main=8,750 kg
empty weight alt=19,300 lb
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
max takeoff weight main=12,705 kg
max takeoff weight alt=28,010 lb

engine (prop)=Alfa Romeo 126 RC.34
type of prop=radial engines
number of props=3
power main=559 kW
power alt=750 hp

max speed main=350 km/h
max speed alt=190 knots, 220 mph
range main=2,000 km
range alt=1,100 nm, 1,200 mi
ceiling main=7,000 m
ceiling alt=23,000 ft
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=

guns=
** 1× 12.7 mm (0.50 in) Breda SAFAT machine gun
** 3× 7.7 mm (0.303 in) machine guns
bombs=
** 1,200 kg (2,600 lb) of general ordnance "or"
** 1× 800 kg (1,800 lb) torpedo

References

*"The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985)", 1985 , Orbis Publishing

ee also

aircontent

related=

similar aircraft=
* PBY Catalina
* Heinkel He 115

sequence= removed from template
see also=

lists=
* List of flying boats
* List of patrol aircraft