574:
513:
898:
389:
623:
26:
597:
1405:
1429:
551:
444:. After the armistice, several flew to southern Italy, including the nine aircraft of 149 Sqn with eighty persons aboard. In October, there were sixteen aircraft operational in southern Italy, which dropped to 10 by May 1945. The squadrons involved were Nos 141, 147, and 183. After the war 183 Sqn. was based at Elmas with four Z.501s and these were scrapped in 1950.
501:("Mamma help me!"). Another theory is that it earned the nickname because it was helpless against enemy aircraft. Even its sea capabilities were poor, and often the Z.501 needed to be helped by ships. As for its flying qualities, it was too slow, lacked manoeuvrability, and under-armed to put up a defence against enemy fighters. As a result, many were shot down.
1417:
216:
488:, when a fighter stalled while chasing a Z.501. The aircraft was more often relegated to second-line duties. Sometimes, with well-trained crews, it was able to attack submarines, damaging several of them (perhaps six in total) and contributing to the destruction of two others. The aircraft had no advanced detection systems, only
369:
and accidents claimed many Z.501s, with 11 destroyed in action, while the number that were operational dropped to 77. The Z.501 operated in all theatres and 62 aircraft were lost in 1940, leaving 126, of which only 87 were operational. New orders were placed with the manufacturer
Aeronautica Sicula.
373:
At the end of 1941, there were Z.501s in 15 of the 27 squadrons dedicated to naval reconnaissance. During the year the number of operational aircraft increased to an average of 100, rising six months later to 108 in eleven squadrons.They were responsible, in collaboration with
Italian ships, for the
476:
and good performance (when it was first introduced). It was quite reliable despite having only one liquid-cooled engine. There were problems with the durability of the wooden fuselage, particularly the aircraft built during the war. Its seafaring qualities were poor and the aircraft was susceptible
396:
By the end of 1942, there were 199 aircraft in service, 88 of which were operational. Maritime reconnaissance had at that time 290 aircraft. By
September 1943, there were still 240 aircraft assigned to maritime reconnaissance: only 84 were Z.501s, in three squadrons, and another 11 (mixed), out of
277:
The production aircraft had an endurance of 12 hours; the record-breaking version, as was quite common at the time (mainly due to the low fuel consumption of the piston engine), greatly exceeded this. The USA had established a new endurance record of 3,860 km (2,400 mi); a Z.501 with the
255:
up to 640 kg (1,410 lb) were carried under the wings. The aerodynamic low-drag design was typical of
Zappata-designed aircraft, as was the wooden construction. Production of the Z.501 began in 1935 with 24 aircraft ordered from CANT and thirty from
333:
engine was fitted, but even with an additional 97 kW (130 hp), the maximum speed dropped to 245 km/h (152 mph), cruise speed to 200 km/h (120 mph) and range to 2,400 km (1,500 mi).
305:, in 26 hours and 35 minutes. This distance record was lost to a French aircraft that flew 4,335 km (2,694 mi) on 23 June the same year, so another record flight was made on 16 July. The plan was to fly to
477:
to bad weather. The fuselage would often break up in rough seas. Another problem was the engine nacelle: if the aircraft landed heavily the propeller could crash down into the cockpit.
815:
30:
CANT Z.501 with beaching gear. The position in the nose is closed and the pilot's cockpit is just under the propeller. The engine nacelle was also used as a machine gun position.
353:(for operations). By the time Italy entered the Second World War on 10 June 1940, 202 aircraft were in service in 15 squadrons. They were used by 20 Sqn. and patrolled the
243:, although it was liquid-cooled. Some versions of other planes such as the Ju 88 and Fw 190D had this same feature. The engine nacelle was extended to carry a rear-facing
397:
twenty. Only around forty aircraft were operational. Total production, 218 by CANT and 236 by
Aeronautica Sicula, but 12 incomplete aircraft were captured after the
423:
329:
for the machine guns, and some reinforcement of the airframe that increased the weight by 500 kg (1,100 lb). The more powerful 656 kW (880 hp)
385:. They were able to carry up to four bombs; either 50 kg (110 lb) or 160 kg (350 lb) with a maximum payload of 640 kg (1,410 lb).
411:(ICAF) aircraft. Some modifications were adopted during production, such as the removal of the nose machine gun and replacing it with an enclosed fairing.
161:, with two outboard floats. It was powered by an engine installed in the middle of the main-plane and had a crew of 4–5 men. It served with the Italian
452:
In 1941, twelve Z.501s were exported to
Romania. One of these 12 flying boats was lost during the war, shot down in the autumn of 1943 by Soviet ace
1464:
1154:
1142:
188:
1454:
952:
925:
820:
392:
RAF Bristol
Beaufighters sweep in at low level to attack the Italian seaplane base at Preveza, Greece. In the foreground is a CANT Z.501.
1151:
810:
541:
432:
85:
1107:
1092:
1081:
1049:
1021:
988:
361:, seven Z.501s were destroyed by a French attack on their base in Sardinia. Another crashed the next day. In July, encounters with
805:
690:
536:
441:
408:
90:
286:'s wishes. It was manned by Stoppani and two others, fitted with a special metal three-blade propeller and other modifications.
175:
aeroplane. During its debut in 1934, it set a world distance record. It was obsolete by 1940, but was still used throughout the
1469:
610:
94:
1395:
1135:
480:
The aircraft was used for reconnaissance thanks to its long endurance but it was vulnerable to enemy fighters or even
427:
330:
192:
793:
199:
and resumed work at CANT on a series of new aircraft. The first of these was the Z.501, designed to replace the
309:, a distance of 4,700 km (2,900 mi)), but instead the aircraft flew 4,930 km (3,060 mi) to
749:
388:
248:
1449:
1128:
622:
438:
322:
51:
1459:
257:
200:
530:
1368:
1342:
1322:
1056:
Axworthy, Mark (September–October 1999). "Flank Guard: Romania's
Advance on Stalingrad, Part Two".
495:
Generally the aircraft's main task was search and rescue and perhaps because of this it was called
967:
602:
453:
247:
and other guns were mounted in the centre fuselage and nose. All were 7.7 mm (0.30 in)
1307:
1378:
1363:
1347:
1287:
1103:
1088:
1077:
1061:
1045:
1017:
1013:
984:
948:
942:
921:
586:
563:
525:
419:
163:
79:
915:
1421:
1005:
518:
362:
283:
232:
176:
148:
1087:
Donald, David, ed. The
Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London: Amber Books, 2001.
1433:
633:
The
Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Italian Civil and Military Aircraft 1930–1945
398:
375:
342:
67:
56:
44:
231:
and a wing-mounted engine nacelle. In the prototype a 560 kW (750 hp) inline
204:
172:
1443:
1006:
783:
366:
357:, as well as performing air-sea rescue operations. During the short campaign against
354:
240:
1120:
1409:
788:
489:
473:
228:
168:
187:
Filippo Zappata was one of the foremost Italian aircraft designers. He worked for
25:
1337:
1332:
1327:
778:
472:
Generally, the Z.501 had a mixed reputation. It was pleasant to fly, having low
244:
196:
158:
1317:
1312:
1302:
1297:
1292:
1282:
1277:
485:
326:
294:
1065:
752:(initially Vickers), but many had only two when the nose position was removed
773:
461:
382:
720:
240 km/h (150 mph, 130 kn) at 1,999 m (6,560 ft)
714:
275 km/h (171 mph, 148 kn) at 2,499 m (8,200 ft)
306:
290:
236:
224:
426:
in 1943, a few of these flying boats continued to operate with both the
1249:
1244:
1239:
1234:
1229:
1224:
1219:
1214:
1209:
1204:
1199:
1194:
1189:
1184:
415:
338:
310:
302:
298:
261:
215:
1179:
1174:
1169:
481:
358:
325:. The Z.501 was put into service with some modifications, including;
901:
In the Skies of Europe: Air Forces Allied to the Luftwaffe 1939–1945
621:
579:
556:
464:, one unit managing to sink two Soviet submarines in August 1941.
387:
350:
346:
214:
293:
distance record of 4,130 km (2,570 mi), by flying from
252:
153:
1124:
179:, suffering many losses. A few remained in service until 1949.
944:
The Axis Air Forces: Flying in Support of the German Luftwaffe
191:(CANT) for some years, but went to France in 1927 to work for
1113:
Marcon, Tullio. "Il CANT Z.501 Gabbiano. (Italian)". Parma:
203:. The prototype Z.501 was first flown in 1934 by test pilot
282:
was used to re-take the record in accordance with dictator
235:
Asso-750.RC engine was fitted, with an annular (circular)
1044:(Sampson Low Guides). Maidenhead, UK: Sampson Low, 1978.
289:
On 19–20 May 1934, the modified Z.501 established a new
816:
List of Regia Aeronautica aircraft used in World War II
626:
Close view of nose showing gunner and cockpit positions
1393:
321:
Z.501s were used for search-and-rescue missions and
1356:
1265:
1258:
1162:
768:
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
130:
122:
114:
109:
101:
74:
62:
50:
40:
35:
18:
1163:Cantieri Aeronautici e Navali Triestini (CANT)
264:. Registration numbers started with MM.35168.
1136:
1008:Italian Civil and Military Aircraft 1930–1945
917:Soviet Lend-Lease Fighter Aces of World War 2
732:2,398 km (1,490 mi, 1,295 nmi)
496:
430:
402:
8:
1074:The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II
981:The encyclopedia of weapons of World War II
839:Angelucci and Matricardi 1978, pp. 186–187.
337:The first units equipped were No.141 Sqn.,
195:. He returned to Italy at the prompting of
1262:
1259:Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico (C.R.D.A.)
1143:
1129:
1121:
484:. Perhaps its only air victory was in the
15:
885:
883:
881:
871:
869:
867:
865:
863:
861:
859:
857:
855:
853:
851:
849:
847:
845:
1400:
832:
726:999 km (621 mi, 539 nmi)
189:Cantieri Aeronautici e Navali Triestini
1076:. New York: Barnes & Noble, 1998.
1042:World Aircraft: World War II, Volume I
1040:Angelucci, Enzo and Paolo Matricardi.
983:. New York: Barnes & Noble Books.
239:that made the installation resemble a
1100:The Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft
1012:. USA: Aero Publishers Inc. pp.
920:. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 72.
7:
821:List of flying boats and floatplanes
758:640 kg (1,400 lb) carried externally
671:62.00 m (667.4 sq ft)
659:22.5 m (73 ft 10 in)
653:14.3 m (46 ft 11 in)
418:and to the Nationalists during the
811:List of interwar military aircraft
542:Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana
433:Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana
86:Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana
14:
665:4.4 m (14 ft 5 in)
1427:
1415:
1403:
806:List of aircraft of World War II
691:Isotta Fraschini Asso XI R.2C.15
595:
572:
566:operated few aircraft until 1948
549:
537:Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force
511:
442:Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force
409:Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force
91:Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force
24:
1465:Single-engined tractor aircraft
401:the invasion of Sicily. Later,
157:) was a high-wing central-hull
1004:Thompson, Jonathon W. (1963).
683:7,050 kg (15,543 lb)
1:
1455:1930s Italian patrol aircraft
677:3,850 kg (8,488 lb)
611:Royal Romanian Naval Aviation
414:Some Z.501s were supplied to
223:The aircraft had a very slim
95:Aeronautica Militare Italiana
979:Bishop, Chris, ed. (1998).
693:, 656 kW (880 hp)
331:Isotta Fraschini Asso XI.RC
313:, Somaliland, in 25 hours.
1486:
1117:, November 1995, pp 10–21.
914:Mellinger, George (2012).
1115:Storia Militare Magazione
1102:. London: Paragon, 2002.
947:. ABC-CLIO. p. 166.
794:Saunders-Roe A.36 Lerwick
23:
750:Breda-SAFAT machine guns
699:3-bladed metal propeller
381:and damaged three other
249:Breda-SAFAT machine guns
875:Marcon 1995, pp. 10–21.
638:General characteristics
941:Joseph, Frank (2012).
903:, Crowood, 2000, p. 92
748:3 Ă— 7.7 mm (0.303 in)
627:
618:Specifications (Z.501)
613:(12 purchased in 1941)
497:
460:performed well in the
431:
403:
393:
323:anti-submarine patrols
278:civilian registration
220:
1470:Parasol-wing aircraft
625:
407:repaired many of the
391:
218:
201:Savoia-Marchetti S.78
899:Hans Werner Neulen,
531:Aviazione Legionaria
1072:Bishop, Chris, ed.
681:Max takeoff weight:
533:operated 9 aircraft
268:Operational history
36:General information
1152:Cantieri (C.R.D.A.
628:
505:Military operators
468:Combat performance
454:Grigoriy Rechkalov
404:Aeronautica Sicula
394:
365:of the Royal Navy
258:Aeronautica Sicula
221:
1391:
1390:
1387:
1386:
1098:Jackson, Robert.
954:978-0-313-39590-1
927:978-1-78200-586-5
587:Spanish Air Force
564:Italian Air Force
526:Regia Aeronautica
424:Italy's surrender
420:Spanish Civil War
164:Regia Aeronautica
138:
137:
80:Regia Aeronautica
1477:
1432:
1431:
1430:
1420:
1419:
1418:
1408:
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1399:
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1145:
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837:
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707:
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605:
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555:
553:
552:
519:Kingdom of Italy
517:
515:
514:
500:
448:Romanian service
436:
406:
317:Military service
284:Benito Mussolini
233:Isotta Fraschini
177:Second World War
28:
16:
1485:
1484:
1480:
1479:
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939:
935:
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893:
888:
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843:
838:
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765:
741:
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703:
636:
620:
596:
594:
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573:
571:
550:
548:
512:
510:
507:
470:
450:
399:Operation Husky
374:destruction of
341:, No.83 Group,
319:
275:
270:
260:, a company in
219:Z.501 in flight
213:
185:
126:7 February 1934
97:
93:
89:
70:
68:Filippo Zappata
45:Patrol aircraft
31:
12:
11:
5:
1483:
1481:
1473:
1472:
1467:
1462:
1457:
1452:
1442:
1441:
1437:
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1424:
1412:
1389:
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1385:
1384:
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1376:
1371:
1366:
1360:
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1330:
1325:
1320:
1315:
1310:
1305:
1300:
1295:
1290:
1285:
1280:
1275:
1269:
1267:
1266:design numbers
1260:
1256:
1255:
1253:
1252:
1247:
1242:
1237:
1232:
1227:
1222:
1217:
1212:
1207:
1202:
1197:
1192:
1187:
1182:
1177:
1172:
1166:
1164:
1160:
1159:
1150:
1148:
1147:
1140:
1133:
1125:
1119:
1118:
1111:
1096:
1085:
1070:
1058:Air Enthusiast
1053:
1036:
1033:
1030:
1029:
1022:
996:
989:
971:
960:
953:
933:
926:
906:
891:
877:
841:
831:
830:
828:
825:
824:
823:
818:
813:
808:
797:
796:
791:
786:
781:
776:
764:
761:
760:
759:
753:
734:
733:
727:
721:
715:
712:Maximum speed:
701:
700:
694:
684:
678:
672:
666:
660:
654:
648:
619:
616:
615:
614:
607:
606:
590:
589:
583:
582:
568:
567:
560:
559:
545:
544:
539:
534:
528:
522:
521:
506:
503:
469:
466:
449:
446:
318:
315:
274:
273:Record flights
271:
269:
266:
212:
209:
205:Mario Stoppani
184:
181:
173:reconnaissance
136:
135:
132:
128:
127:
124:
120:
119:
116:
112:
111:
107:
106:
103:
99:
98:
83:
76:
72:
71:
66:
64:
60:
59:
54:
48:
47:
42:
38:
37:
33:
32:
29:
21:
20:
19:Z.501 Gabbiano
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1482:
1471:
1468:
1466:
1463:
1461:
1458:
1456:
1453:
1451:
1450:CANT aircraft
1448:
1447:
1445:
1435:
1425:
1423:
1413:
1411:
1401:
1397:
1380:
1377:
1375:
1372:
1370:
1367:
1365:
1362:
1361:
1359:
1355:
1349:
1346:
1344:
1341:
1339:
1336:
1334:
1331:
1329:
1326:
1324:
1321:
1319:
1316:
1314:
1311:
1309:
1306:
1304:
1301:
1299:
1296:
1294:
1291:
1289:
1286:
1284:
1281:
1279:
1276:
1274:
1271:
1270:
1268:
1264:
1261:
1257:
1251:
1248:
1246:
1243:
1241:
1238:
1236:
1233:
1231:
1228:
1226:
1223:
1221:
1218:
1216:
1213:
1211:
1208:
1206:
1203:
1201:
1198:
1196:
1193:
1191:
1188:
1186:
1183:
1181:
1178:
1176:
1173:
1171:
1168:
1167:
1165:
1161:
1156:
1153:
1146:
1141:
1139:
1134:
1132:
1127:
1126:
1123:
1116:
1112:
1109:
1108:0-7525-8130-9
1105:
1101:
1097:
1094:
1093:0-7607-0592-5
1090:
1086:
1083:
1082:0-7607-1022-8
1079:
1075:
1071:
1067:
1063:
1060:(65): 72–75.
1059:
1054:
1051:
1050:0-562-00096-8
1047:
1043:
1039:
1038:
1034:
1025:
1023:0-8168-6500-0
1019:
1015:
1010:
1009:
1000:
997:
992:
990:0-7607-1022-8
986:
982:
975:
972:
969:
964:
961:
956:
950:
946:
945:
937:
934:
929:
923:
919:
918:
910:
907:
904:
902:
895:
892:
886:
884:
882:
878:
872:
870:
868:
866:
864:
862:
860:
858:
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854:
852:
850:
848:
846:
842:
836:
833:
826:
822:
819:
817:
814:
812:
809:
807:
804:
803:
802:
801:
800:Related lists
795:
792:
790:
787:
785:
784:Dornier Do 18
782:
780:
777:
775:
772:
771:
770:
769:
762:
757:
754:
751:
747:
744:
743:
742:
739:
731:
728:
725:
722:
719:
718:Cruise speed:
716:
713:
710:
709:
708:
706:
698:
695:
692:
688:
685:
682:
679:
676:
675:Empty weight:
673:
670:
667:
664:
661:
658:
655:
652:
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632:
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529:
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502:
499:
493:
491:
490:depth charges
487:
483:
478:
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467:
465:
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459:
455:
447:
445:
443:
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435:
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429:
425:
421:
417:
412:
410:
405:
400:
390:
386:
384:
380:
379:
371:
368:
367:Fleet Air Arm
364:
360:
356:
355:Mediterranean
352:
349:, and No.62,
348:
344:
340:
335:
332:
328:
324:
316:
314:
312:
308:
304:
300:
296:
292:
287:
285:
281:
272:
267:
265:
263:
259:
254:
250:
246:
242:
241:radial engine
238:
234:
230:
226:
217:
210:
208:
206:
202:
198:
194:
190:
182:
180:
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889:Jackson 2002
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229:parasol wing
222:
186:
169:World War II
162:
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143:
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139:
123:First flight
115:Manufactured
102:Number built
84:
78:
52:Manufacturer
779:Beriev Be-4
705:Performance
697:Propellers:
687:Powerplant:
245:machine gun
197:Italo Balbo
183:Development
159:flying boat
142:CANT Z.501
1444:Categories
968:aeroflight
669:Wing area:
383:submarines
295:Monfalcone
1422:Companies
1066:0143-5450
774:Aichi H9A
657:Wingspan:
631:Data from
498:Mammaiuto
462:Black Sea
458:Gabbianos
376:HMS
345:, No.85,
227:, a high
1434:Aviation
1374:Gabbiano
1157:aircraft
763:See also
738:Armament
437:and the
363:fighters
307:Djibouti
291:seaplane
237:radiator
225:fuselage
144:Gabbiano
63:Designer
1396:Portals
1369:Alcione
663:Height:
651:Length:
603:Romania
482:bombers
416:Romania
343:Augusta
339:Eritrea
327:turrets
311:Berbera
303:Eritrea
299:Massawa
262:Palermo
193:Blériot
171:, as a
167:during
149:Italian
131:Retired
110:History
1364:Airone
1348:Z.1018
1343:Z.1015
1338:Z.1012
1333:Z.1011
1328:Z.1010
1323:Z.1007
1106:
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756:Bombs:
724:Range:
600:
577:
554:
516:
486:Aegean
456:. The
439:Allied
359:France
280:I-AGIL
211:Design
1410:Italy
1379:Leone
1357:Names
1318:Z.516
1313:Z.515
1308:Z.514
1303:Z.511
1298:Z.509
1293:Z.508
1288:Z.506
1283:Z.505
1278:Z.504
1273:Z.501
1155:CANT)
1016:–54.
827:Notes
746:Guns:
645:Crew:
580:Spain
557:Italy
378:Union
351:Spain
347:Elmas
301:, in
253:Bombs
118:-1943
1104:ISBN
1089:ISBN
1078:ISBN
1062:ISSN
1046:ISBN
1018:ISBN
985:ISBN
949:ISBN
922:ISBN
689:1 Ă—
428:Axis
154:Gull
140:The
134:1950
57:CANT
41:Type
647:4-5
297:to
105:454
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1014:52
880:^
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147:(
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