Z.506 Airone file photo [5457]

Z.506 Airone

CountryItaly
ManufacturerCantiere Navale Triestino
Primary RoleSeaplane
Maiden Flight19 August 1935

Contributor:

ww2dbaseThe Z.506 Airone ("Heron") three-engined float planes were designed as 12- to 14-seat light transport aircraft. Their first duties were civilian in nature, delivering mail and transporting passengers around the Mediterranean Sea for the airline company Ala Littoria. As civilian planes, they set several records for their class between 1936 and 1938, including altitude, speed, and distance. In 1939, the Z.506B variants joined the Italian air force, serving in the roles of reconnaissance and torpedo bombing. Later in the war, because of the growing presence of Allied fighters, Z.506B Airone aircraft served as patrol and rescue aircraft only. However, being sidelined did not mean that they were obsolete; in fact, they performed so well in air-sea rescue missions that a particular variant, Z.506S Soccorso, was especially designed for that role. After the Italian Armistice, Z.506 aircraft served both with Germans as well as the Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force. They remained in service until 1959. During the design's production life, 324 Z.506B variants were built for military use.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia.

Last Major Revision: Jan 2008

SPECIFICATIONS

Z.506B Series XII
MachineryThree Alfa Romeo 126 RC.34 radial engines rated at 750hp each
Armament1x12.7mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun, 3x7.7mm machine guns, 1x1,200kg bomb or 1x800kg torpedo
Crew5
Span26.50 m
Length19.24 m
Height7.45 m
Wing Area86.26 m²
Weight, Empty8,750 kg
Weight, Maximum12,705 kg
Speed, Maximum350 km/h
Service Ceiling7,000 m
Range, Normal2,000 km

Photographs

Two Z.506B Airone aircraft in flight, date unknownZ.506 Airone aircraft being transported on land, date unknown; note Do 24 float plane in backgroundZ.506 Airone aircraft in flight, date unknownZ.506 Airone aircraft making a water landing, date unknown




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Z.506 Airone Seaplane Photo Gallery
Two Z.506B Airone aircraft in flight, date unknown
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