Who died in a CANT Z.506?

Short answer

Ramón Franco, a pioneer of Spanish aviation and brother of Francisco Franco, died in an air accident on 28 October 1938: his seaplane, a CANT Z.506, went down off Pollença, Mallorca, while he was trying to bomb Valencia, which was in Republican hands.

Published: November 6, 2026 · Updated: November 6, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

Cant Z506 on Sicily beach side 1943

The pilot of the Plus Ultra

Ramón Franco was a pioneer of Spanish aviation, a political figure, and brother of the future caudillo Francisco Franco. He piloted the Plus Ultra seaplane on a transatlantic flight. He joined the Nationalist side, one of whose main leaders was his brother.

The accident

He died in an air accident on 28 October 1938. His seaplane, a CANT Z.506, crashed off Pollença, near the coast of Mallorca. At the time he was trying to bomb Valencia, which was under Republican control. His body was found floating in the water.

The CANT Z.506

The Z.506 was a three-engine floatplane designed and manufactured by the Italian company CANT. The prototype made its first flight on 19 August 1935. Mario Stoppani, CANT's chief test pilot, flew 3,231 miles (about 5,200 km) in a CRDA CANT Z.506 in a closed circuit without landing in 1937, a distance record for seaplanes that still stands. The Z.506 became famous as the only aircraft hijacked by prisoners of war on the Western Front.