Ansaldo SVA 5 Foreign Service

The Ansaldo SVA.5 was an Italian single-seat reconnaissance and light bomber aircraft developed during World War I by the company Gio. Ansaldo & C.. Designed by Umberto Savoia and Rodolfo Verduzio, it first flew in 1917 as part of the SVA family. Originally intended to be a fighter, it proved too stable for air combat but excelled as a fast reconnaissance aircraft thanks to its exceptional speed, range, and high-altitude performance.

The SVA.5 became one of the fastest Allied aircraft of the war, reaching speeds of about 215–240 km/h, depending on the engine version. It was armed with two synchronized 7.7 mm Vickers machine guns and could carry reconnaissance cameras or light bombs. More than 1,200 examples were built, making it the most widely produced version of the SVA series.

The aircraft is best remembered for the famous Flight over Vienna on 9 August 1918. A formation of SVA aircraft flew approximately 1,000 km over enemy territory to Vienna, where they dropped propaganda leaflets and photographed the city before returning safely to Italy. This mission became one of the most celebrated long-range flights of World War I.

The kit includes:

Decals for 6 aircraft marking schemes
Photo-etched detail parts
Reinforcement wires for wings and struts
16-page full-color instruction manual
Clear-film canopy mask template for easy painting and masking