CANT 6

The CANT 6 was a twin‑engine, high‑wing flying boat developed in the early 1930s by Cantieri Aeronautici e Navali Triestini (CANT), the shipyard‑aircraft builder based in Trieste, Italy. Conceived as a long‑range maritime patrol and transport platform, the aircraft first flew on 7 September 1932 and entered limited service with the Regia Aeronautica the following year. Its wooden hull, reinforced with plywood and steel frames, gave it excellent seaworthiness, while the all‑metal, two‑spar wing accommodated three 750 hp Isotta Fraschini Asso 750 V‑12 engines mounted in nacelles on the upper surface. The CANT 6 could carry a crew of five, up to twelve passengers, or a modest payload of bombs for anti‑shipping missions. Notable features included retractable outriggers for enhanced stability on water, a spacious interior that could be reconfigured for medical evacuation, and a relatively low wing loading that afforded gentle handling during taxiing and take‑off in rough seas. Though production was limited to just a few prototypes, the CANT 6 demonstrated the versatility of seaplane design and helped cement CANT’s reputation for innovative naval aviation, influencing later Italian flying boats such as the more successful CANT Z.501 and Z.506.

Cantieri Aeronautici e Navali Triestini

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