A three-engined derivative of Z1007 bis, first flown January 1939 and used in torpedo trials early in the Second World War. The Z.1015 had 1,500-h.p. Piaggio P.XII R.C.35 radials, and was produced in small quantities.
Piston
Cant Z.1012
three-engined transport
Cant Z.1011
A twin-engined medium bomber/transport powered by 840-h.p.Isotta-Fraschini Asso Xl R.C.15 engines. Five prototypes of the Z.1011 were built, but the bomber was under-powered and inadequate performance led to the abandonment of further development in favor of the Z.1007.
Cant Z.1007 Alcione
The Alcione (Kingfisher) was an Italian bomber of the Second World War, designed by the CRDA Cant, it was the company’s first landplane, and stemmed directly from the Z.506 Airone. The pro¬totype, flown in late 1937, had three Asso liquid cooled engines in annular cowls, but all production machines had radials, usually the 1000 hp Piaggio P.XIbis RC40.
Of all wooden construction, the Alcione had a long bomb bay under the wing able to carry up to 2000 (4410 lb). There were manual gun positions at front and rear of this bay (often the front position was used solely for bomb aiming) and most Alciones had a dorsal turret and two beam guns. The guns were at first all 7.7 mm, but by 1940 the dorsal and ventral guns were 12.7 mm. When Italy entered the war in 1940 there were 87 in service, and the type was being built by Cant, Piaggio and IMAM Meridionali. In 1941 the Z.1007bis appeared, with the fuselage 244 cm (96 in) longer, span 83 cm (33 in) greater and stronger landing gear. Many of these had twin fins.
The Alcione operated from Tunisia to the Soviet Union, often carrying two 450 mm (1000 lb) torpedoes or in the strategic recon¬naissance role. A few Z.1007ter, with 1175 hp Piaggio P.XIX engines, entered service in 1942. Cant tried to improve performance by fitting the 1500 hp Piaggio P.XIX engine, and at the very end of Italian participation in the war produced the Z.1018 Leone (Lion).
CANT Z.1007bis Alcione (Kingfisher)
Engines: 3 x Piaggio P.XI RC.40 radial piston, 1,000 horsepower
Length: 60.20ft (18.35m)
Wing span: 81.36ft (24.80m)
Wing area: 807.300 sqft / 75.0 sqm
Wing load: 37.31 lb/sq.ft / 182.00 kg/sq.m
Height: 17.13ft (5.22m)
Maximum Speed: 301mph (485kmh; 262kts)
Maximum Range: 1,115miles (1,795km)
Range (max. weight): 945 nm / 1750 km
Service Ceiling: 24,606ft (7,500m; 4.7miles)
Armament: 3 x 12.7mm Scotti OR SAFAT heavy machine gun, 2 x 7.7mm SAFAT machine guns
Up to 2,645lbs of internal stores and up to 2,200lbs of external stores OR 2 x 1,800lb torpedoes.
Accommodation: 5
Hardpoints: 2
Empty Weight: 20,715lbs (9,396kg)
Maximum Take-Off Weight: 30,029lbs (13,621kg)
Cant Z.511
During the war years the C.R.D.A. completed two prototypes of the Z.511 commercial transport floatplane designed by Zappata before the war and intended far use on Alitalia’s South Atlantic route as the world’s largest floatplane. Construction of the Z.511 commenced in 1941 and the first prototype flew on 8th September 1943. The first prototype was destroyed when it struck a mine, and the second, commandeered by the Luftwaffe, was destroyed in Germany. The Z.511 was powered by four 1,500-h.p. Piaggio P.XII R.C.35 radials and had a loaded weight of 74,957 lb.
Cant Z.509
The Z.509 monoplane flying-boat was a further commercial development of the Z.506 differing from the Z.506 in having 1000-h.p. radials.
Cant Z.508
The Z.508 was a monoplane tri-motor flying-boat derived from the Z.501 (three 840-h.p. Isotta-Fraschini Asso XI R.C.40), but only a small production batch was completed.
Cant Z.506 Airone
The Z.505 was developed into Z.506 (1936), built as reconnaissance/ bomber/ASR for Regia Aeronautica (Z.506B Airone) and as commercial transport for Italian airlines (Z.506A and C). Designed and produced by the C.R.D.A. the Z.506B Airone tri-motor, twin-float reconnaissance-bomber seaplane which was developed in 1936 as a military version of the Z.506 commercial floatplane (the Z.509 was a further commercial development differing from the Z.506 in having 1000-h.p. radials), and the Monfalcone factory had produced ninety-five Z.506B float-planes by the time Italy entered the war.
Production began in 1935 and, with accommodation for up to 16 passengers, the type served with Ala Littoria and with the military. Production was subsequently undertaken by Piaggio as a landplane version.
CANT Z.506 prototype I-CANT set several international seaplane records in 1936 before being delivered to the Italian Air Ministry as MM291.
The Z.506B was employed primarily far maritime reconnaissance, bombing and torpedo attacks on shipping around Italy’s coasts. The Z.506S was an ambulance and air-sea rescue version built by Piaggio. The Airone largely replaced the earlier Z.501 single-engined high-wing flying- boat, although some of these obsolescent machines were operated throughout the war.
CRDA Cant C. 506 Airone
Engine: 3 x Alfa Romeo 126 RC 34, 740 hp
Length: 63.156 ft / 19.25 m
Height: 24.278 ft / 7.4 m
Wingspan: 86.942 ft / 26.5 m
Wing area: 936.468 sqft / 87.0 sqm
Max take off weight: 27121.5 lbs / 12300.0 kg
Weight empty: 18301.5 lbs / 8300.0 kg
Max. speed: 197 kts / 365 km/h
Cruising speed: 175 kts / 325 km/h
Service ceiling: 26247 ft / 8000 m
Wing load: 28.91 lb/sq.ft / 141.0 kg/sq.m
Range: 1482 nm / 2745 km
Armament: 2x MG 7,7mm, 1x MG 12,7mm, 1200kg Bomb. / Torp.
Cant Z.505
twin-float three-engined monoplane, 1935.
Cant Z.501 Gabbiano
In 1931 the Cantiere Navale Triestino company acquired the services of Filippo Zappata, and also changed its name to Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico, under which a number of civil and military seaplanes and land based aircraft were subsequently produced. The first Zappata designed prototype aircraft from the CRDA was a single engined flying boat, designed as a maritime reconnaissance bomber. Designated Z.501 and named Gabbiano (seagull), it flew for the first time at Monfalcone, Trieste, in 1934. With the civil registration I-AGIL, it set up an international distance record for seaplanes in October 1934, flying non stop for 4120 km (2560 miles) from Monfalcone to Massawa in Eritrea. A short time later a French aircraft took the record, but the Gabbiano reclaimed it in July 1935 with a 4957 km (3080 mile) flight from Monfalcone to Berbera in Somaliland.
It was in its designed role that the Z.501 entered service with the Squadriglie da Ricognizione Marittima (marine reconnaissance squadron) of the Regia Aeronautica (Italian air force) in 1936, after an order for production aircraft had been placed; an eventual total of 445 were built. In full military condition, the Gabbiano’s maximum range was 2400 km (1490 miles). The flying boat was of wooden construction, with fabric covered wings and tail, and was powered by a 900 hp Isotta Fraschini Asso XI R2 C15 12 cylinder V type engine mounted above the centre section of the parasol wing mounted on struts up high and away from the fuselage. It carried a normal crew complement of four or five men. Initial armament was three 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Breda SAFAT machine guns, one in an open position above the nose and the other two in semi enclosed positions in the middle of the fuselage and in the rear of the over wing engine nacelle. Racks attached to the inner¬ wing bracing struts could carry a variety of small bombs up to a maximum load of 640 kg (1410 lb), typical combinations including two 250 kg (551 1b), four 160 kg (353 1b) or four 100 kg (220 1b) bombs. Romania purchased a few Z.501s in 1937 38, and some saw service on the rebel Nationalist side in the Spanish civil war of 1936 39.
When Italy entered the Second World War in June 1940, the Regia Aeronautica had 202 Z.501s in front line service with maritime reconnaissance squadrons, air/sea rescue and other units. During the following year the nose gun was removed, to allow for an enclosed observer’s cockpit in that position. At the Italian armistice in September 1943 the Gabbiano was still in use; about 20 continued serving with the co belligerent Italian forces and others with the pro German Aviazione della RSI (the airforce of Mussolini’s short¬lived Italian Social Republic set up after the armistice), until the end of the war, and a few survived with the Italians until 1950. The Z.501 finished the war without a single air-to-air kill.
CANT Z.501 Gabbiano (Gull)
Engine: 1 x Isotta Fraschini Asso XI R2C.15 12-cylinder, 900hp.
Length: 46.92ft (14.3m)
Wing span: 73.82ft (22.50m)
Wing area: 667.368 sq.ft / 62.0 sq.m
Cruising speed: 130 kts / 240 km/h
Cruising altitude: 6562 ft / 2000 m
Wing load: 23.17 lb/sq.ft / 113.0 kg/sq.m
Height: 14.44 ft (4.40m)
Maximum Speed: 171mph (275kmh; 148kts)
Maximum Range: 1,491miles (2,400km)
Range (max. weight): 540 nm / 1000 km
Rate-of-Climb: 820ft/min (250m/min)
Service Ceiling: 22,966ft (7,000m; 4.3miles)
Armament: 3 x 7.7mm machine gun
Up to 1,411lbs (640 kg) of bombs.
Structure:
Accommodation: 4 to 5
Hardpoints: 2
Empty Weight: 8,488lbs (3,850kg)
Maximum Take-Off Weight: 15,543lbs (7,050kg)
