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glyn · 01-06-2008, 18:37 PM

[quote=temujin77;445084]Hey guys, I ran across this photo of the Italian aircraft Z.506 Airone, and noticed there is a German aircraft in the background. What is it?

Definitely a Dornier Do 24.

Interestingly, it seems to be some sort of biplane...

It does rather look like that from an angle, but in fact they are sponsons, which provided waterborne stability instead of using wing mounted floats. The sponsons gave lift in flight and held the fuel tanks. It was much easier to refill them than having to climb on a wing to do so.

01-06-2008, 18:37 PM	#13 (permalink)
glyn *Military Professional* Join Date: 09-15-06 Location: Penzance, Cornwall UK Posts: 6,886	[quote=temujin77;445084]Hey guys, I ran across this photo of the Italian aircraft Z.506 Airone, and noticed there is a German aircraft in the background. What is it? Definitely a Dornier Do 24. Interestingly, it seems to be some sort of biplane... It does rather look like that from an angle, but in fact they are sponsons, which provided waterborne stability instead of using wing mounted floats. The sponsons gave lift in flight and held the fuel tanks. It was much easier to refill them than having to climb on a wing to do so. __________________ Semper in excretum. Solum profunda variat.