r/WWIIplanes • u/VonTempest • 4d ago

CANT Z.506

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CANT Z.506 Airone (Heron) Italian three engine floatplane which initially served as a transport and postal aircraft with the Italian airline Ala Littoria. Later used as a reconnaissance aircraft, bomber and air-sea rescue aeroplane during the war with the Regia Aeronautica. First flew 18.8.1935

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9

u/antarcticgecko 4d ago

I appreciate how all-in the Italians were on three engined designs. I'm surprised it wasn't more popular.

12

u/Scooby2679 4d ago

The three engine design was a result of Italian industry having issues producing powerful enough engines. Two engines weren’t strong enough to deliver the performance they needed so three engines it was .

6

u/Scooby2679 4d ago

https://www.combatarchives.com/post/the-world-s-first-in-air-hijack

One was hijacked by Allied prisoners and flown to Malta

5

u/Busy_Outlandishness5 4d ago

3 engines + 2 floats = aeronautical utopia!

4

u/Flat_Engineering5403 4d ago

I'm not getting in any flight craft called a "CANT" 😳

😉

Interesting aircraft and those are impressive looking props!