CANT Z.1007bis Alcione: Precious Italian Imbroglio.

The magnificent Alcione (Kingfisher) was designed starting in 1935 by the great Filippo Zappata, a sort of derivative of his superb CANT Z.506. As usual with Italian big aircraft of the era the Z.1007 was three-engined,a trend necessary due to the meagre power output of their local engines. The Alcione was, with the SM.79 “Gobbo”, one of the best medium bombers of the Regia Aeronautica, but it was also an especially good reconnaissance aircraft. The main handicap of these excellent aircraft apart of their engine layout was their all-wood structure, easily damaged in extreme climates.
Curiously the Z.1007’s were built at the same time in both single and twin tail arrangements (the later definitely improved their questionable longitudinal stability) and they were operated mixed in the same units…some crews preferred one and others the other.

Such a pretty thing; those Piaggio P.XI bis R.C.40’s roaring.