Кант Z.506 S Airone | |
| Країні | Італія |
| Роль | Тримоторний поплавковий літак |
| Перший політ | 19 серпня 1935 р. |
| Побудований | 340+ |
Фотогалерея Кант Z.506 S Airone, 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. 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. A number of Z.506S air-sea rescue aircraft remained in service until 1959.
Джерело: Cant Z.506 S Airone у Вікі
| Cant Z.506 S Airone | |
|---|---|
| Фотограф | Libor Spurek |
| Локалізацією | Незнай |
| Фото | 25 |
Купи мені каву| Cant Z-506 Airone Seaplane Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Фотограф | Unknow |
| Локалізацією | Незнай |
| Фото | 35 |
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The Mercy Ship of the Skies
У 201 CANT Z.506S (Soccorso – Rescue) was the specialized Air-Sea Rescue (SAR) and ambulance version of the formidable Airone (Heron) floatplane. While its brother, the Z.506B, was a record-breaking torpedo bomber, the “S” variant traded its bomb bay and heavy dorsal turret for stretchers, medical supplies, and a bright white or high-visibility finish marked with red crosses. Despite being constructed almost entirely of wood, the Airone was so seaworthy that it could land and take off in conditions that would destroy most other seaplanes of the era.
| Attribute | Technical Specification (Z.506S) |
|---|---|
| Роль | Air-Sea Rescue (SAR) / Medical Evacuation |
| команда | 5 (Pilot, Co-pilot, Radio op, 2 Medical staff) |
| First Flight | 1935 (Original prototype) |
| Силова установка | 3 × Alfa Romeo 126 RC.34 9-cylinder radials |
| Horsepower | 750 hp (560 kW) each |
| Максимальна швидкість | 350 km/h (217 mph) |
| Service Ceiling | 7,000 m (23,000 ft) |
| Medical Capacity | Up to 10 stretchers or 14 sitting patients |
Design Engineering: Floating on Tulip Wood
- Wooden Robustness: The fuselage was built using three-spar wooden box structures covered in tulipier (tulip wood) lamellas and plywood. This choice of material, though seemingly old-fashioned, made the plane incredibly buoyant and resistant to the corrosive effects of salt water.
- The “Long Legs”: The twin duralumin floats were massive, measuring 12.5 meters long. They were divided into watertight compartments, allowing the Airone to remain stable on the water even if one compartment was punctured by gunfire or debris.
- Removal of the Gondola: Unlike the bomber version, the Z.506S lacked the ventral “gondola” (the bulge under the belly used for bombing). This smoothed out the aerodynamics and provided more internal space for medical equipment and recovery gear.
- Visibility is Key: In its rescue role, the Z.506S often featured additional windows and observation ports to allow the crew to spot life rafts and downed pilots from high altitudes.
A Legacy of Survival
- The Hijacked Heron: In 1942, a Z.506 was used to rescue a downed British crew. Once on board, the British prisoners overwhelmed their Italian captors and hijacked the plane, flying it to Malta where it was eventually used by the RAF!
- Under Fire: Despite its Red Cross markings, the Z.506S was frequently attacked by Allied fighters. To counter this, many SAR “Airone” crews eventually re-installed machine guns for self-defense, blurring the line between mercy missions and combat operations.
- The Longest Service: У 201 Airone was so reliable that it outlived the Fascist regime and the Monarchy. It served the post-war Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare) until 1959, patrolling the Mediterranean for nearly 25 years.
- Record Breaker: Before the war, the civilian version (Z.506A) set 16 world records for speed, distance, and altitude, proving that the wooden airframe was among the best in the world.
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