Model name: Italian CANT Z.1007bis "Alcione" Bomber
Application: Collection,Souvenir Gift, Home Office Decoration,Educational,Model
Age Range: > 14 years old
Type: Static finished model
Material: Zinc alloy,plastic
Scale: 1:144
Size: approx 13cm(L) * 17cm(W)*3.6cm(H)/5.1inch(L) * 6.7inch(W)*1.4inch(H)
Package:Aircraft model,Display stand,Original box
CANT Z.1007bis "Alcione" (Kingfisher)
The CANT Z.1007bis "Alcione" was one of the most important and effective three-engine medium bombers used by the Italian Regia Aeronautica (Royal Air Force) during World War II. While Italy is often associated with the Savoia-Marchetti SM.79, the Z.1007bis was, in many respects, a superior aircraft, admired for its handling, robustness, and performance.
Design and Development
Designed by the Cantieri Riuniti dell'Adriatico (CANT) company under Filippo Zappata, the Z.1007 was an all-wooden aircraft, a construction method chosen due to Italy's limited strategic metal reserves. This earned it the nickname "the wooden wonder."
"bis" Variant: The original Z.1007 had a single vertical tailfin and less powerful engines. The definitive and most-produced version was the Z.1007bis, which featured twin tailfins and more powerful Piaggio P.XI radial engines. This modification greatly improved stability and performance.
Crew and Armament: It typically carried a crew of five. Its defensive armament included one 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine gun in a dorsal turret and two to four 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns in ventral, beam, and nose positions. It could carry up to 2,200 lbs (1,000 kg) of bombs internally.
Operational History
The Z.1007bis entered service in 1939 and saw action across all major Mediterranean theaters.
Theater of War: It was used extensively in the Greco-Italian War, the North African campaign, the Siege of Malta, and on the Eastern Front.
Performance: Pilots praised the Z.1007bis for its pleasant flying characteristics and its ability to withstand significant battle damage. However, its wooden structure was also its greatest weakness; it was highly vulnerable to fire and could easily break up under heavy stress or attack.
Role: It served primarily as a medium-level bomber and also in reconnaissance and anti-shipping roles. Despite its qualities, it often suffered heavy losses when faced with modern enemy fighters due to a lack of sufficient defensive firepower and armor protection for the crew—a common problem for many Italian aircraft of the era.
Legacy
The CANT Z.1007bis Alcione is considered one of the best Italian bombers of World War II. Its elegant lines, wooden construction, and capable performance make it a unique and iconic aircraft. While it shared the skies with the more famous SM.79, many aviation historians and pilots of the time regarded the Alcione as a more refined and advanced design. Its story exemplifies both the technical ingenuity and the industrial limitations faced by Italy during the conflict.