- Thread starter
- #21
In July 1935 there flew the prototype of a large wooden twin-float-seaplane, powered by three 840 hp (626 kW) Isotta-Fraschini Asso XI inline engines. This was the CRDA Cant Z.505 which had been designed as a mail-plane. On 19 August in the same year, Mario Stoppani conducted the first flight of the slightly smaller and lighter Z.506, a 12/14-passenger transport with three 610 hp (455 kW) Piaggio Stella IX radial engines. The type was put into production in 1936 as the Z.506A, and entered service with the Italian airline Ala Littoria during that year on routes around the Mediterranean. Powered by three 750 hp (559 kW) Alfa Romeo 126 RC.34 radial engines the Z.506A, flown mostly by Mario Stoppani, set several altitude, distance and speed records in 1936-8, including speeds of 191.539 mph (308.25 km/h), 198.7 mph (319.78 km/h) and 200.118 mph (322.06 km/h) over distances of 3,107 miles (5000 km), 1,243 miles (2000 km) and 621 miles (1000 km) respectively. It carried a payload of 4,409 lbs (2000 kg) to 25,623 ft (7810 m) and 11,023 lbs (5000 kg) to 22,693 ft (6917 m) and later flew 3,345.225 miles (5383.6 km) over a closed circuit.
A military version, designated Z.500B Airone (Heron), was shown at the Milan Aeronautical Exhibition in October 1937. This had a stepped, extensively glazed tandem two-seat cockpit and a ventral gondola which contained the bomb aimer's position and the bomb bay, immediately behind which was a gunner's position. The Z.506B was built at Cant's Monfalcone and Finale Ligure Factories, and by Piaggio under licence. In November 1937 a Z.506B with 750 hp (559 kW) Alfa Romeo 127 RC.55 engines set a load-to-height record of 33,318 ft (10155 m) with a 2,205 lbs (1000 kg) payload, and then flew 4,362 miles (7020 km) non-stop from Cadiz to Carevalas. Z.506 variants included an air-sea rescue Z.506S of which at least 20 were produced as conversions from Z.506Bs, and a single Z.506 landplane which was specially prepared with fixed, spatted landing gear for an endurance record attempt by Mario Stoppani; this was at first postponed, then finally cancelled, because of continuing bad weather. In 1936 a heavy bomber prototype, which was essentially a scaled-up version of the Z.506, was built under the designation Z.508. No production version resulted but this aircraft, powered by three 840 hp (627 kW) Isotta-Fraschini Asso XI RC.40 engines, was used to set a number of records, including a speed of 154.26 mph (248.25 km/h) over a 1,234 mile (2000 km) course with an 11,023 lbs (5000 kg) payload.
Last of this family was the Z.509, a larger and heavier version of the Z.506A of which three were built in 1937 for use on Ala Littoria's transatlantic postal service to South America. This model was powered by three Fiat A.80 RC.41 radial engines, and a new wing of 92 it 11 in (28.32 m) span and 1,076.43 sq it (100.00m2) area was introduced to compensate for increased empty and maximum take-off weights of 22,000 lbs (9980 kg) and 35,200 lbs (15965 kg) respectively. Production of the Z.506B totalled 324, including two prototypes which were supplied to the Regia Aeronautica and the Regia Marina; the latter service took over 29 aircraft, the balance of a Polish order for 30 which were not delivered as a result of the German invasion. Five were delivered to the Nationalist forces in the Spanish Civil War late in 1938. A number of the Z.506S air-sea rescue aircraft remained in service until 1959.
The Largest float seaplane to give wide spread operational service during World War II (although the Junkers Ju 52/3mW might also lay claim to this achievement), the Italian Cant Z.506B Airone (Heron) three engine twin-float reconnaissance bomber was developed from the commercial Z.506A in 1936, production of the military aircraft starting the following year with a batch of 32 aircraft (Serie I) and differing from the earlier aircraft in featuring a long ventral gondola accommodating bomb bay, bomb-aimer's station and a rear ventral gun position. A semi-retractable gun turret was also added.
The early Z.506B aircraft were evaluated with the Aviazione Legionaria in Spain during 1939, 30 other aircraft having also been ordered by the Polish naval wing (in the event only one of the latter had arrived in Poland when the Germans invaded in September, and the remaining aircraft were taken on charge by Italy's Regia Marina). By the date of Italy's entry into the war in June 1940 the Z.506B was in full production, 95 aircraft having been completed by the parent company. Most of these were serving with the 31° and 35° Stormi Bombardamento Marittimo at Elmas and Brindisi respectively were these units were fairly heavily engaged during the campaign in Greece, although they seldom operated when likely to be opposed by RAF fighters. They participated in the capture of Corfu, Cefalonia and Zante, and attempted to shadow British naval forces after the Battle of Cape Matapan but sheered away when faced by Fleet Air Arm Fairey Fulmar fighters. Thereafter the "Airone" was almost entirely withdrawn from use as a bomber and torpedo attack aircraft, the Italian navy calling for its greater use in maritime reconnaissance, air-sea rescue, convoy escort and anti-submarine patrol roles; such had been the shift in naval superiority in the Mediterranean following the debacle at Taranto and the Battle of Cape Matapan.
Development and production of the Airone continued, with small modifications being introduced with each new production batch (serie), of which Serie XII was the most important. A special air-sea rescue conversion was the Z.506S (Soccorso), this version being also used in small numbers by the Luftwaffe. After the Italian surrender 23 Z.506B and five Z.506S aircraft were flown to Allied ports and subsequently flew with the Co-Belligerent Air Force's Raggruppamento Idro, performing transport and other second-line tasks.
A military version, designated Z.500B Airone (Heron), was shown at the Milan Aeronautical Exhibition in October 1937. This had a stepped, extensively glazed tandem two-seat cockpit and a ventral gondola which contained the bomb aimer's position and the bomb bay, immediately behind which was a gunner's position. The Z.506B was built at Cant's Monfalcone and Finale Ligure Factories, and by Piaggio under licence. In November 1937 a Z.506B with 750 hp (559 kW) Alfa Romeo 127 RC.55 engines set a load-to-height record of 33,318 ft (10155 m) with a 2,205 lbs (1000 kg) payload, and then flew 4,362 miles (7020 km) non-stop from Cadiz to Carevalas. Z.506 variants included an air-sea rescue Z.506S of which at least 20 were produced as conversions from Z.506Bs, and a single Z.506 landplane which was specially prepared with fixed, spatted landing gear for an endurance record attempt by Mario Stoppani; this was at first postponed, then finally cancelled, because of continuing bad weather. In 1936 a heavy bomber prototype, which was essentially a scaled-up version of the Z.506, was built under the designation Z.508. No production version resulted but this aircraft, powered by three 840 hp (627 kW) Isotta-Fraschini Asso XI RC.40 engines, was used to set a number of records, including a speed of 154.26 mph (248.25 km/h) over a 1,234 mile (2000 km) course with an 11,023 lbs (5000 kg) payload.
Last of this family was the Z.509, a larger and heavier version of the Z.506A of which three were built in 1937 for use on Ala Littoria's transatlantic postal service to South America. This model was powered by three Fiat A.80 RC.41 radial engines, and a new wing of 92 it 11 in (28.32 m) span and 1,076.43 sq it (100.00m2) area was introduced to compensate for increased empty and maximum take-off weights of 22,000 lbs (9980 kg) and 35,200 lbs (15965 kg) respectively. Production of the Z.506B totalled 324, including two prototypes which were supplied to the Regia Aeronautica and the Regia Marina; the latter service took over 29 aircraft, the balance of a Polish order for 30 which were not delivered as a result of the German invasion. Five were delivered to the Nationalist forces in the Spanish Civil War late in 1938. A number of the Z.506S air-sea rescue aircraft remained in service until 1959.
The Largest float seaplane to give wide spread operational service during World War II (although the Junkers Ju 52/3mW might also lay claim to this achievement), the Italian Cant Z.506B Airone (Heron) three engine twin-float reconnaissance bomber was developed from the commercial Z.506A in 1936, production of the military aircraft starting the following year with a batch of 32 aircraft (Serie I) and differing from the earlier aircraft in featuring a long ventral gondola accommodating bomb bay, bomb-aimer's station and a rear ventral gun position. A semi-retractable gun turret was also added.
The early Z.506B aircraft were evaluated with the Aviazione Legionaria in Spain during 1939, 30 other aircraft having also been ordered by the Polish naval wing (in the event only one of the latter had arrived in Poland when the Germans invaded in September, and the remaining aircraft were taken on charge by Italy's Regia Marina). By the date of Italy's entry into the war in June 1940 the Z.506B was in full production, 95 aircraft having been completed by the parent company. Most of these were serving with the 31° and 35° Stormi Bombardamento Marittimo at Elmas and Brindisi respectively were these units were fairly heavily engaged during the campaign in Greece, although they seldom operated when likely to be opposed by RAF fighters. They participated in the capture of Corfu, Cefalonia and Zante, and attempted to shadow British naval forces after the Battle of Cape Matapan but sheered away when faced by Fleet Air Arm Fairey Fulmar fighters. Thereafter the "Airone" was almost entirely withdrawn from use as a bomber and torpedo attack aircraft, the Italian navy calling for its greater use in maritime reconnaissance, air-sea rescue, convoy escort and anti-submarine patrol roles; such had been the shift in naval superiority in the Mediterranean following the debacle at Taranto and the Battle of Cape Matapan.
Development and production of the Airone continued, with small modifications being introduced with each new production batch (serie), of which Serie XII was the most important. A special air-sea rescue conversion was the Z.506S (Soccorso), this version being also used in small numbers by the Luftwaffe. After the Italian surrender 23 Z.506B and five Z.506S aircraft were flown to Allied ports and subsequently flew with the Co-Belligerent Air Force's Raggruppamento Idro, performing transport and other second-line tasks.
