CANT Z.506
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| CANT Z.506 Airone | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Type | Patrol aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Cantiere Navali Triestino |
| Maiden flight | 1935 |
| Introduced | 1936 |
| Retired | 1959 |
| Primary user | Regia Aeronautica |
| Variants | Z.509 |
The CANT Z.506 Airone (Italian: Heron) was a triple engine float plane that served with the Italian Regia Aeronautica during World War II.
Contents |
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Operators
- Luftwaffe (captured)
_crowned.svg/22px-Flag_of_Italy_(1861-1946)_crowned.svg.png){kind=small}
- Polish Air Force received 1 aircraft out of 6 ordered.
- Spain - Nationalist Forces
- Royal Air Force One captured aircraft briefly operated from Malta
- Postwar
Italy
[edit] Specifications (Z.506B Series XII)
Data from The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 5
- Length: 19.24 m (63 ft 1.5 in)
- Wingspan: 26.50 m (86 ft 11.3 in)
- Height: 7.45 m (24 ft 5.3 in)
- Wing area: 86.26 m² (928.53 ft²)
- Empty weight: 8,750 kg (19,300 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 12,705 kg (28,010 lb)
- Powerplant: 3× Alfa Romeo 126 RC.34 radial engines, 559 kW (750 hp) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 350 km/h (190 knots, 220 mph)
- Range: 2,000 km (1,100 nm, 1,200 mi)
- Service ceiling 7,000 m (23,000 ft)
Armament
- 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
[edit] References
- ^ Bishop, Chris (ed.) 1998, The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Barnes & Noble, New York. ISBN 0-7607-1022-8.
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985 , Orbis Publishing
[edit] See also
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
- List of flying boats
- List of patrol aircraft
|
||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
