Cantieri Aeronautici e Navali,
CANT Z.1007 Alcione (Kingfisher)
Introduction date May 1939
First flight March 1937

The CANT Z.1007 Alcione (Kingfisher) was a three-engined medium bomber designed and produced by the Italian aircraft manufacturer CANT. It was regarded by some as "the best Italian bomber of World War II", although its wooden structure was easily damaged by the climate in North Africa and in Russia. Designed by Filippo Zappata, who also designed the CANT Z.506 Airone, the Z.1007 featured a wooden structure and had "excellent flying characteristics and good stability". The prototype performed its maiden flight during March 1937, and the type entered service with the Regia Aeronautica in the following year. The initial production version, which was powered by Isotta-Fraschini Asso XI.RC inline engines, was not fully satisfactory, and thus was largely confined to use as a trainer while design work continued. An improved model, the Z.1007bis, was developed to resolve the problems with the original aircraft; it was powered by Piaggio P.XI RC.40 radial engines and featured numerous other design refinements.

Design

Configuration and problems

The Z.1007 had a standard monoplane configuration, with a mid-set wing, single tail, retractable undercarriage and a crew of five or six. It had a wooden structure and a clean shape that was much more aerodynamic than the competing SM.79. The Z.1007 had three engines, with one engine in the nose and two in the wings. The tri-motor design was a common feature of Italian aircraft of the Second World War. The aircraft had a slim fuselage as the two pilots sat in tandem rather than side-by-side as in most bombers of the period. Visibility was relatively good and the aircraft was almost a three-engine fighter.^[] This slimness reduced drag but also somewhat worsened the task of the two pilots. Both pilots' seats were offset to port to allow a passageway for the bombardier to enter his compartment below the pilot's feet (directly behind the central engine), by ducking through an opening under the starboard instrument panel. The front and rear instrument panels contained flight and navigation instruments, while the engine monitoring gauges were located to starboard where the rear pilot could see them past the front pilot's shoulder. Although the rear pilot's view was limited, he was capable of landing or taking off if needed. His primary purpose was to allow the forward pilot to rest, and to add some "muscle" to the controls when needed, as well as acting as an extra set of eyes to notice problems and to monitor gauges while the other was occupied.

Operators

Independent State of Croatia

• Zrakoplovstvo Nezavisne Države Hrvatske

Germany

• Luftwaffe operated captured aircraft

Kingdom of Italy

• Regia Aeronautica
• Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force
• Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana

Free French

• Free French Air Force operated captured aircraft