CANT 25

The CANT 25 was a single‑engine, single‑seat racing seaplane built in the early 1920s by the Italian firm Cantieri Aeronautici e Navali Triestini (CANT). Designed by engineer Raffaele Conflenti to compete in the prestigious Schneider Trophy, the aircraft first flew in 1922 and immediately demonstrated the potential of streamlined, high‑speed floatplane design. Its wooden fuselage was covered with plywood, while the wings employed a thin, cantilever layout that reduced drag. Powered by a 300 hp Isotta Fraschini V.6 engine driving a two‑bladed propeller, the CANT 25 could reach speeds over 300 km/h (186 mph), a remarkable figure for the era. The aircraft’s innovative use of surface‑mounted radiators and its carefully faired floats contributed to its competitive edge. Although it never won the Schneider Trophy, the CANT 25 set several speed records and influenced subsequent Italian racing seaplanes such as the Macchi M.39. Its development marked a turning point for CANT, establishing the company as a leading naval‑aircraft builder and encouraging the integration of advanced aerodynamic concepts into military and civil aviation throughout the interwar period. The CANT 25 also served as a testbed for metal propeller development and inspired later transatlantic seaplane prototypes that demonstrated Italy’s growing expertise in high‑performance maritime aviation.

Cantieri Aeronautici e Navali Triestini

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