The SVA was a single-engine, biplane, single-seat, mixed-structure fighter, reconnaissance and bombing aircraft. Very fast and innovative in terme of aeronautical technology, it was one of the first entirely Italian design and construction aircraft. The acronym “SVA” derives from the initials of the surnames Savoia and Verduzio, the engineers who designed it, and Ansaldo, the company that built about two thousand unite starting from 1917. Mainly used in reconnaissance missione during the Great War, this aircraft became legendary among pilots for having made some memorable flights; first of all the one over Vienna, on 9 August 1918, carried out by the SVA of the 87th “Serenissima” squadron under the command of Gabriele D’Annunzio. Alter the war, thanks to the strong determination of the pilots and the scrupulous preparation of the companies, two SVA went from Rome to Tokyo in an exceptional flight of 18,000 km, while the one piloted by the Antonio Locatelli Gold Medal crossed the Andes with a solitary flight. The SVA achieved moderate export success, being used by 11 countries, including France and the United States, and were built until the mid-1920s.
The aircraft is exhibited in a 9/10 scale replica, made in 2001 by Prof. Antonio Angelucci from Vasto in about 8,000 hours of work, using construction techniques and aeronautical materiale (woods, glues, canvases, paints, tubulars in metal light alloys) used for the construction of the original copy, no. 11721, which is exhibited at the Military Air Force Museum in Vigna di Valle.
This beautiful replica has been exhibited in numerous exhibitions throughout Italy and participated in the parade on june 2, Republic Day, in Rome in 2014. In july 2022, Antonio Angelucci’s son, Giuseppe, wanted to donate it to the Volandia Museum.