Z.506

The CANT Z.506, nicknamed the "Airone" (Heron), was a three‑engine floatplane developed in Italy during the mid‑1930s by the ship‑building firm Cantieri Aeronautici e Navali Triestini (CANT). First flown on 24 May 1935, the Z.506 entered service with the Regia Aeronautica as a long‑range maritime reconnaissance and search‑and‑rescue platform. Its all‑metal low‑wing monoplane design featured three Alfa‑Romeo 126 R.C.34 radial engines mounted on the wing, delivering a combined output of roughly 2,100 horsepower and giving the aircraft a top speed of about 440 km/h (273 mph). The wing incorporated retractable floats that could be folded for storage, while the spacious fuselage accommodated a crew of five, radio‑navigation equipment, and a modest bomb load for anti‑submarine work. During World War II the Z.506 proved versatile, serving not only in coastal patrol but also in clandestine transport and meteorological missions across the Mediterranean and Atlantic. Its reliability and range, exceeding 2,800 km, helped shape Italy’s maritime air strategy and cemented the Z.506 as one of the most successful Italian seaplanes of the pre‑war era. Post‑war, a few examples were used by civilian operators for coastal transport, underscoring the type’s enduring adaptability.