Cantiere Navale Triestino
Encyclopedia
CANT was an Italian
aviation company which originally specialised in building naval aircraft, formed in 1923 as part of the CNT (Cantiere Navale Triestino
, or in English Trieste Naval Shipyard). The company produced a number of designs for the Italian military, but ceased operations in 1944.
, owners of CNT decided to enter the aviation business. Already active in shipping and shipbuilding, they followed the same pattern by establishing first an air taxi service (SISA, 1921) and then a seaplane workshop at Monfalcone
(within the existing shipyard) in 1923. The first successful design was the CANT 6
a three-engine biplane flying-boat bomber built in 1925. SISA trained pilots for the Regia Aeronautica
(the Italian Air Force) using CANT 7
and CANT 18
biplanes; from 1926 it added airline services, using the CANT 10
and CANT 22
cabin seaplanes. The main designer was Raffaele Conflenti. The workshops survived on license production and prototypes.
In 1930, CNT merged with other shipyards to form the C.R.D.A. (Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico - United Adriatic Shipbuilding), but aircraft continued to use the CANT designation. In 1933, C.R.D.A. was acquired by state conglomerate IRI
, and Italo Balbo
persuaded Filippo Zappata
, then working with Blériot
, to become chief designer. In the following nine years, CRDA flew 18 new types that garnered 40 world records; it also added a landplane factory, test department, and airfield as the workforce grew from 350 to 5,000. The CANT Z.501
(1934) and Z.506
(1935) seaplanes, and the Z.1007
landplane bomber (1937) became the standard Italian types in their categories. Zappata saw wooden airplanes as a temporary necessity, and his new designs were conceived with all-metal construction, including the Z.1018
bomber twin, Z.511
four-engine floatplane airliner, and Z.515 twin floatplane.
Around 1939 Zappata became disillusioned with CRDA and started negotiating with Breda
, which he joined in 1942; in addition, military requirements fluctuated. The Z.1018 started in wood as "flying mockup", developed as a very different wooden preseries, and metamorphosed into metal for production with bomber, torpedo-bomber, and night-fighter variants. Not surprising, none of these types became operational before the Italian armistice in 1943. The ensuing German occupation and USAAF raids in March–April 1944 stopped all production, and only the shipyard was rebuilt after the war.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
aviation company which originally specialised in building naval aircraft, formed in 1923 as part of the CNT (Cantiere Navale Triestino
Cantiere Navale Triestino
CANT was an Italian aviation company which originally specialised in building naval aircraft, formed in 1923 as part of the CNT...
, or in English Trieste Naval Shipyard). The company produced a number of designs for the Italian military, but ceased operations in 1944.
History
In 1921, the Cosulich family of TriesteTrieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
, owners of CNT decided to enter the aviation business. Already active in shipping and shipbuilding, they followed the same pattern by establishing first an air taxi service (SISA, 1921) and then a seaplane workshop at Monfalcone
Monfalcone
Monfalcone is a town and comune of the province of Gorizia , located on the coast of the Gulf of Trieste. Monfalcone means "Mount of Falcon" in Italian....
(within the existing shipyard) in 1923. The first successful design was the CANT 6
CANT 6
|-See also:-References:*...
a three-engine biplane flying-boat bomber built in 1925. SISA trained pilots for the Regia Aeronautica
Regia Aeronautica
The Italian Royal Air Force was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946...
(the Italian Air Force) using CANT 7
CANT 7
|-See also:-References:*...
and CANT 18
CANT 18
|-See also:-References:*...
biplanes; from 1926 it added airline services, using the CANT 10
CANT 10
|-See also:-References:* * Sapienza Fracchia, Antonio Luis: "La Contribución Italiana en la Aviación Paraguaya". Author's edition. Asunción, 2007. 300pp....
and CANT 22
CANT 22
|-See also:-References:*...
cabin seaplanes. The main designer was Raffaele Conflenti. The workshops survived on license production and prototypes.
In 1930, CNT merged with other shipyards to form the C.R.D.A. (Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico - United Adriatic Shipbuilding), but aircraft continued to use the CANT designation. In 1933, C.R.D.A. was acquired by state conglomerate IRI
Istituto per la Ricostruzione Industriale
The Istituto per la Ricostruzione Industriale was an Italian public company set up by the fascist government in 1933 to combat the effects of the global depression on the Italian economy...
, and Italo Balbo
Italo Balbo
Italo Balbo was an Italian Blackshirt leader who served as Italy's Marshal of the Air Force , Governor-General of Libya, Commander-in-Chief of Italian North Africa , and the "heir apparent" to Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.After serving in...
persuaded Filippo Zappata
Filippo Zappata
Filippo Zappata was an Italian engineer and aircraft designer.Zappata was born in Ancona. He worked for Gabardini, Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico , Blériot, Breda, and Agusta, In the 1930s he designed a series of successful multi-engined hydroplanes such as the CANT Z.501 flying boat, CANT Z.506...
, then working with Blériot
Louis Blériot
Louis Charles Joseph Blériot was a French aviator, inventor and engineer. In 1909 he completed the first flight across a large body of water in a heavier-than-air craft, when he crossed the English Channel. For this achievement, he received a prize of £1,000...
, to become chief designer. In the following nine years, CRDA flew 18 new types that garnered 40 world records; it also added a landplane factory, test department, and airfield as the workforce grew from 350 to 5,000. The CANT Z.501
CANT Z.501
The CANT Z.501 Gabbiano was a single engine flying boat that served with the Italian Regia Aeronautica during World War II. It had a crew of four or five and was used mainly for reconnaissance. Initially a successful aircraft, it was obsolete by 1940, but was still used throughout World War II,...
(1934) and Z.506
CANT Z.506
The CANT Z.506 Airone was a triple-engine floatplane produced by CANT from 1935. It served as a transport and postal aircraft with the Italian airline "Ala Littoria"...
(1935) seaplanes, and the Z.1007
CANT Z.1007
The Cant Z.1007 Alcione was a three-engined medium bomber, with wooden structure. Designed by ingegner Filippo Zappata, the "father" of the CANT...
landplane bomber (1937) became the standard Italian types in their categories. Zappata saw wooden airplanes as a temporary necessity, and his new designs were conceived with all-metal construction, including the Z.1018
CANT Z.1018
The CRDA CANT Z.1018 Leone was an Italian medium bomber of the 1940s.-Design and development:In 1939, the Regia Aeronautica initiated its R Plan, or 3,000 airplanes, a campaign to quickly increase its strength with modern aircraft...
bomber twin, Z.511
CANT Z.511
|-See also:-References:* * * John & Elke Weale, Combat Aircraft of World War Two , Arms and Armour Press, London, 1978.* World War Two Magazine, Article : "Germany, Italy and Japan each had plans to strike the U.S...
four-engine floatplane airliner, and Z.515 twin floatplane.
Around 1939 Zappata became disillusioned with CRDA and started negotiating with Breda
Breda Meccanica Bresciana
Breda Meccanica Bresciana, widely known simply as Breda, is a large Italian manufacturer of small arms and ammunition located in Brescia.-History:...
, which he joined in 1942; in addition, military requirements fluctuated. The Z.1018 started in wood as "flying mockup", developed as a very different wooden preseries, and metamorphosed into metal for production with bomber, torpedo-bomber, and night-fighter variants. Not surprising, none of these types became operational before the Italian armistice in 1943. The ensuing German occupation and USAAF raids in March–April 1944 stopped all production, and only the shipyard was rebuilt after the war.