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The CANT Z.506 ''Airone'' (Italian: Heron) was a triple-engine floatplane produced by CANT from 1935. It served as a transport and postal aircraft with the Italian airline "Ala Littoria". It established 10 world records in 1936 and another 10 in 1937.〔Angelucci and Matricardi 1978, p. 194.〕 During World War II it was used as a reconnaissance aircraft, bomber and air-sea rescue plane, by the Italian ''Regia Aeronautica'' and ''Regia Marina'', Aeronautica Cobelligerante del Sud, Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana and the ''Luftwaffe''. The military version revealed itself to be one of the best floatplanes ever built. Despite its wooden structure it was able to operate in very rough seas.〔Gunston 1984 p. 216.〕 A number of Z.506S air-sea rescue aircraft remained in service until 1959.〔Mondey 1996 pp. 21-32.〕 ==Design and development== The CANT Z.506 was designed as a 12 to 14-seat transport twin-float seaplane, powered by three 455 kW (610 hp) Piaggio Stella IX radial engines. It was derived from the larger and heavier Z.505 seaplane.〔Mondey 1996, p. 31.〕 The Z.506 entered production in 1936 as the Z.506A, powered by more powerful 560 kW (750 hp) Alfa Romeo 126 RC.34 nine cylinder radial engines, giving a maximum output of 780 CV on take off and 750 CV at 3,400 meters. The fuselage had a wooden structure covered in ''tulipier'' wooden lamellas. The wings were built with a structure of three box-type spars linked by wooden wing-ribs covered by plywood. The floats were made of duraluminium, covered in ''chitonal'' and were 12.50 meters long. The armament consisted of a 12.7 (0.5 inch) Breda-SAFAT machine guns in the dorsal position and three 7.7 mm (0,303 inch) machine guns, one in the ventral position and two on the sides of the fuselage. The CANT Z.506 had a crew of five.〔De Marchi 1994, p. 25.〕 It was produced at the "Cantieri Riuniti dell 'Adriatico" and "Cantiere Navale Triestino" (CRDA CANT) factories in Monfalcone and Finale Ligure respectively. The aeroplanes were in such demand that the Piaggio company also produced CANT Z. 506s.〔Angelucci and Matricardi 1978, p. 195.〕 under licence. The Z.506A entered service with the ''Ala Littoria'' air company flying around the Mediterranean. While flown mostly by Mario Stoppani, the Z.506A set a number of altitude, speed and distance records for its class between 1936 and 1938, including speeds of 191.539 mph (308.25 km/h) over 3,107 (5000 km) and 198.7 mph (319.78 km/h) over 1,243 miles (2000 km), and 200.118 mph (322.06 km/h) over 621 miles (1000 km). It subsequently flew 3,345.225 miles (5383.6 km) in a closed circuit. It carried a load of 4,409 lb (2000 kg) to 25,623 ft (7810 m.) and 11,023 lb (5000 kg) to 22,693 ft (6917 m).〔 A military version appeared after 15 civil aeroplanes had entered service with ''Ala Littoria''.〔 It was developed as the Z.506B. This military version was powered by three 560 kW (750 hp) Alfa Romeo 127 RC 55 engines and entered service in 1939. This version was also a record breaker.〔Bignozzi, p. 9.〕 A larger version of the Z.506A was built in 1937 as the Z.509. The last CANT Z.506B was built by Piaggio in January 1943. Total production was more than 320 aircraft.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「CANT Z.506」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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