SVA 3

The Ansaldo SVA-3 was an Italian mixed biplane fighter with a fixed undercarriage from the First World War and the interwar period. The drive was provided by a single SPA-6A engine with a capacity of 200 HP. The prototype flight took place at the turn of 1917-1918. The SVA-3 belonged to the family of Ansaldo SVA aircraft. Originally, the machines of this family were designed as reconnaissance aircraft, but due to their good performance and high piloting properties, at the end of 1917 and 1918, fighter or bomber planes began to be based on them. The SVA-3 was just such a successful modification. It was in fact an SVA-4, but it was licensed at the Societa AER aircraft plant. The SVA-3 was usually armed with two machine guns, and its design was slightly strengthened in relation to the SVA-2 and SVA-4 aircraft. A version with a slightly smaller size and reduced weight, called SVA-3 Ridotto, was also created. This plane had a better rate of climb and was dedicated to fighting zeppelins. It often had a machine gun mounted in the rear part of the cabin.