CANT Z.506
Cantieri Aeronautici e Navali Triestini · Italy · first flew 1935 · airliner
The CANT Z.506 is an Italian three-engine high-wing floatplane designed initially for civil passenger and mail services, introduced in 1935. It established several international seaplane speed and distance records in its civil form.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 3 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 19.24 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Three-engine high-wing floatplane with elegant lines
- Twin-float configuration with central hull fairing
- Distinctive triple-engine nacelle arrangement on parasol wing
The Z.506 is distinguished by its high parasol wing carrying three radial engines, twin main floats, and the slender elegant fuselage profile characteristic of Zappata's designs.
Specifications
- The CANT Z.506 has a length of 19.24 m (63 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 26.5 m (87 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 345 km/h (214 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Ing. Filippo Zappata at CANT in Trieste, the Z.506 was intended to serve Italian colonial routes and set a series of impressive speed records in its civil Z.506A configuration. The aircraft's aerodynamic refinement made it competitive with contemporary landplanes on some routes.
Variants
The civil Z.506 and Z.506A record-breaker were followed by the military Z.506B Airone torpedo-bomber and patrol variant, which saw extensive WWII service.
Where you'll see it
Civil Z.506s operated with Ala Littoria on Italian domestic and Mediterranean routes in the late 1930s before military variants took over the type's production.
Related aircraft
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