Italy's Cant Z.506B floatplane
Nickname: Airone ("Heron")

Photos

Cant Z.506B Airone floatplane:	Cant Z.506B Airone floatplane:	Cant Z.506B Airone floatplane:	Cant Z.506B Airone floatplane: Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook
Cant Z.506B Airone floatplane: Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook
Cant Z.506B Airone floatplane:	Cant Z.506B Airone floatplane:

Design

The Cant Z.506B Airone was the military version of the Z.506 civilian transport.^1,2

The CANT Z.506B was a low wing monoplane, with three engines, and on top of floats.² The wing and fuselage structure was wood and was covered in fabric lined wood.²

The floats of the CANT Z.506B were made from metal and were connected by a faired steel tube structure to the wings and fuselage.²

Even thought The Z.506B was of wooden construction it could handle Force 5 condititions.¹

Prototype

The prototype CANT Z.506 was flown by Mario Stoppani in 1936 and set eight seaplane records.² These were done by flying up to two tons of cargo distances between 625 and 1,250 miles.² When carrying two and five tons of cargo the Z.506 established two altitude records.²

Production

The Cant Z.506 was built by Cant and Piaggio.^1,2

• CANT Z.506: 20¹
• CANT Z.506B: 324¹
• Total: >320², 344¹
  • Manufacturer: Cantieri Riuiti dell'Adriatico²
  • Production: ? - January 1943²

Variants

• CANT Z.506: Civilian model used by Ala Littoria airline.²
• CANT Z.506B: First appeared in 1937.¹
• CANT Z.506B Series XII: Had a beam position with two 7.7 mm machine guns and could also carry up to 2,645 lb / 1,200 kg bombs.¹
• CANT Z.506S: Conversion to air sea rescue.^1,2 Around 50 were converted.¹

Usage

World Records

In each year, 1936 and 1937, the CANT Z.506 set ten world records.²

First Units

The 31st and 35th Naval bomber groups were first equipped with the Z.506B.²

Spanish Civil War

In the Spanish Civil War the Italian Legion used some Z.506Bs.¹

Entry Into World War II

There were around 95 / 97² Z.506s available in June 1940 and equipped two Regia Aeronautica groups.¹ These were used against France and the Balkans.¹

Vulnerable to Attack

By 1941 the Cant Z.506B was switched to being a primarily coastal plane because it was found to be very vulnerable to enemy fighters.¹

Hijacked

The only plane to be every taken over by POWs was a Cant Z.506B that was flown to Malta.¹

Luftwaffe Use

After the Italian surrender the Luftwaffe used about twelve Z.506Bs as ambulances and transports.¹

Power War Use

The Italian Air Force used some of the Z.506Bs until 1959.^1,2

Specifications

	Cant Z.506B2 Airone "Heron"1
Type	Bomber2,3, Torpedo bomber1,3, Reconnaissance1,3, Transport3
Crew	51,2
Passenger	163
Engine (Type)	3: Alfa Romero 126 RC 341,2,3
Cylinders	Radial 91,2
Cooling	Air2
HP	750 each1,2,3
Propeller blades	3 each1,2
Dimensions
Span	83' 11"3, 86' 11"1,2 26.49 m1
Length	63' 2"1,2, 64'3 19.25 m1
Height	22'3, 24' 5"2, 24' 5.5"1 7.45 m1
Wing area
Weight
Empty	19,290 lb1 8,750 kg1
Loaded	27,375 lb2
Maximum load	27,998 lb1, 27,000 lb3 12,700 kg1
Performance
Speed	240 mph3
Speed @ 13,120' / 4,000 m	217 mph1, 226 mph2 349 kph1
Cruising speed
Climb to 13,120' / 4,000 m	4 minutes1
Service ceiling	25,750'1, 26,000'2 7,850 m1
Range	1,250 miles3, 1,700 miles2
Range with 1,102 lb / 500 kg load	1,243 miles1 2,000 km1
Maximum range	1,430 miles1 2,300 km1
Armament	4: MG2,3
Dorsal turret	1: 12.7 mm MG1
Ventral position	1: 7.7 mm MG1
Ventral bay	2: 1,764 lb torpedo1 2: 800 kg torpedo1
OR	2,205 lb1, 2,650 lb2 1,000 kg1