Ansaldo SVA
Ansaldo · Italy · first flew 1917 · fighter
The Ansaldo SVA (Savoia-Verduzio-Ansaldo) was a fast Italian reconnaissance biplane of WWI that proved too stable to be an effective fighter but excelled as a long-range scout and in propaganda operations.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.1 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
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Spot it by:
- Italian WWI biplane scout and reconnaissance aircraft
- Warren-truss interplane strut arrangement
- Used by D'Annunzio for the Flight over Vienna in 1918
Clean two-bay biplane with distinctive parallel Warren-truss (W-shaped) interplane struts instead of conventional N-struts, giving it a unique structural appearance; large water-cooled inline engine with nose radiator.
Specifications
- The Ansaldo SVA has a length of 8.1 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.1 m (30 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 230 km/h (143 mph).
- Typical crew: 1–2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Umberto Savoia and Rodolfo Verduzio, the SVA first flew in March 1917. Though fast, its handling was too heavy for dogfighting; it was reassigned to reconnaissance, where its speed and range were assets. Gabriele D'Annunzio led a celebrated flight of SVA-5s over Vienna in August 1918, dropping leaflets.
Variants
SVA.4 single-seat scout; SVA.5 long-range reconnaissance; SVA.9 two-seat trainer; SVA.10 two-seat reconnaissance; IMAM-built versions continued postwar.
Where you'll see it
Served with the Corpo Aeronautico Militare throughout 1917–18; postwar examples used by Italian air mail services and in long-distance record flights.
Related aircraft
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