CANT 25 A.R. — Italian Flying Boat Fighter

The CANT 25 (later produced under CRDA CANT) was a single-seat Italian flying boat fighter that entered military service with the Regia Aeronautica in 1931. Derived from the earlier CANT 18 training aircraft, it was specifically optimized for maritime environments, coastal defense, and shipborne catapult deployment. Built as an unequal-span biplane of all-wooden construction, it featured a highly refined, low-drag single-step hull for rapid hydrodynamic detachment during takeoff.

This collection brings together the surviving primary-source documentation for the CANT 25, presented as an archival edition fixed at its original publication date.

Document Manifest

Variant A.R. — 1 Manual

• Cant 25 Operating and Maintenance
  Cant 25 A.R. Aircraft Assembly and Adjustment Instructions
  Istruzioni per il Montaggio e la Regolazione (Italian Language)

No Variant — 2 Manuals

• Engine
  Fiat A-20 Series IV Aircraft Engine — Operating Instructions
  Istruzioni per l'Uso del Motore (Italian Language)
• Cant 25 Slides, Photos and Brochures
  Cant 25 Photographic Collection (English language)

Total Manuals: 3

Aircraft Technical Overview

Performance Data

Aerodynamic & Structural Profile

• Wing Configuration: Unequal-span biplane (sesquiplane). Top wing larger span; lower wing mounted flush to hull with pronounced dihedral and balancing stabilizer floats. Upper wing features a central cutout for pusher propeller arc clearance.
• CANT 25M: Rigid Warren-truss interplane bracing — aerodynamically stiff but requiring manual wing detachment for storage.
• CANT 25AR (Ali Ripiegabili): Conventional vertical interplane struts allowing outer wing panels to fold flush against the rear hull for warship deployment.
• Hull Construction: Wooden internal skeleton wrapped in three layers of waterproof plywood, insulated with resin-impregnated canvas along the bottom step. Control surfaces fabric-covered over wood frame.

Engine Technical Notes

• Powerplant: Single Fiat A.20 inline, water-cooled V12 engine in a streamlined nacelle suspended beneath the upper wing centre section.
• Drive Setup: Pusher configuration with two-bladed wooden propeller — kept engine clear of cockpit and water impact.
• Output: 25M prototype: 410 hp (306 kW). 25AR production: 440 hp (328 kW) to offset folding wing weight penalty.

Handling and Stability Summary

• Maneuverability: Inherited extraordinary agility from the CANT 18ter acrobatic trainer — capable of aggressive aerobatic loading without structural deformation.
• Catapult Launch: Significant structural reinforcement on the 25AR tailplane bracing to handle G-forces during Regia Marina warship catapult deployment.
• Hydrodynamic Balance: Open cockpit positioned far forward of the wings gave excellent forward visibility for ocean tracking, but increased pitch sensitivity in heavy sea swells.
• Operational Evolution: Added weight from folding hinges, catapult hooks, and structural armor shifted flight characteristics from agile dogfighter to stable tracking platform.

Engineering Bulletins & Operational Status

• Synchronized twin Vickers 7.7mm machine guns permanently built into the nose bow structure, firing straight ahead over the splash guard.
• Phased out of primary frontline combat by 1937. Surviving 38 units transferred to auxiliary units for training and coastal reconnaissance through 1943.

This is an archival, static-copy edition fixed at its original publication date. Intended for historical reference, flight simulation, museum restoration, and educational use only. Not approved for active airworthiness maintenance under FAA 14 CFR § 43.13, EASA Part-M, or equivalent international regulations. Operators of active aircraft must use current, revision-controlled publications from the Type Certificate holder or an authorized distributor.

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