Ansaldo Aircraft List

[hesham]

Hi,

the AeronSutica Ansaldo SA established late in WWl by engineering and shipbuilding firm of Gio. Ansaldo (formed 1896). After the war a separate
company was formed, named Society Anonima Aeronautica. Turin, though
title was variously rendered.

S.V. Finally called SVA 1,was a two-seat reconnaissance biplane,four examples without windshield.
SVA 2 Pre-production examples: modified engine exhausts.
SVA 2/II Advanced production examples: windshield with 5 different panels, machine gun mounted on the upper wing, lower wing leading edge modified to improve visibility.
SVA 2/III Last examples of the series: machine gun synchronized with the propeller mounted on the left on the hood. Aerodynamic covers the connections of the uprights with the fuselage.
SVA 2/IV Two-seat version: a modified example for Gabriele D'Annunzio's flight over Vienna, with controls in the rear cockpit, and the front seat in place of the main fuel tank. To replace this tank, another one was located on the upper wing.
SVA 3 Version with a shortened wingspan trying to improve maneuverability.
SVA 4 Reconnaissance version with increased surface empennage to improve stability.
I SVA Seaplane version of the SVA 4, to which floats with hydrofoils were added
SVA Am Hydro version for the Italian Regia Navale.
SVA 5 Fighter-bomber with curved windshield, two machine guns and bomb launchers.
SVA 6 Bomber with fuel tank on the upper wing.
SVA 7 was a reconnaissance-bomber of the SVA.6. Racks for 6 bombs on the fuselage. - remember only one wing mounted
Fiat gun,undeveloped version.
SVA 8 A single example, probably built as an experimental aircraft
SVA 9 Two-seat trainer with controls in front cabin only.
SVA 9/II Two-seat trainer with controls in both cabins.
SVA 10 Reconnaissance version with main controls in the forward cockpit, 1 machine gun synchronized with the propeller mounted to the left of the cowling, and a flexible machine gun for the observer. Photographic cameras, initially installed under the lower wing and then moved towards the tail.
AP Single-seat version for the air mail service, with reinforced landing gear and Isotta Fraschini V.6 engine with a radiator located in the landing gear.
SVA 11,12,13,14,15 & 16 were unknown variants

A series,

A.1 Ballila was a single seat fighter reconnaissance biplane,powered by one
220 hp SPA 6A engine.
A.1bis was only series production version; approximately 250 examples were made in the Ansaldo workshops and 57 in those of the Polish Plage i Laśkiewicz.
A.3 was a developed version of A.1,powered by one 300 hp Fiat A.12 engine
A.5 was a SVA fuselage with Pomilio PE wing,as a two-seat reconnaissance
biplane.
A.115 was an A.300/5,fitted with 400 hp Lorraine 12 engine,as a two-seat
reconnaissance parasol wing monoplane.
A.115bis was improved version.
A.120 was a developed version of A.115,as following;
A.120 - prototype with Lorraine 12Db engine
A.120bis - improved version with Fiat A.20 engine
A.120Ady - definitive production version, most with Fiat A.22 engine
A.120R - revised version for Austrian service
A.200 ------?
A.201 was a single seat high-speed bomber biplane,based on SVA.8
A.202 was a two-seat high-speed bomber biplane,also based on SVA.8
A.300 was a two-seat multi-role combat biplane,powered by one 300 hp
Fiat A.12 bis engine,its variants;
A.300/2 Two-seater version, first series production version, made in a few examples.
A.300/3 Three-seater version, exported to Spain, Belgium and Poland.
A.300/4 development of the A.300/2 version, equipped with an upgraded engine and a different cooling system with 2 Lamblin radiators placed under the fuselage.
A.300/5 prototype, equipped with a Lorraine engine, made in just one example.
A.300/6 Conversion of an A.300/4 (MM.25663) equipped with a Fiat A.20 engine to increase its operational life.
A.300C Prototype, civil transport version, made in a single example.
A.300T Prototype, civil transport version, made in a single example.
A.400 A developed version of A.300,equipped with Lorraine engine


- To be continued

 

[hesham]

I complete up to A.400.

 

[Apophenia]

A good start hesham but the Ansaldo corporate stuff is garbled and the S.V.A. listings are somewhat inaccurate.

Corporate: Gio. Ansaldo & C. S.a.s. dates back to 1853 (S.a.s. just mean Limited Partnership, from Società in accomandita semplice). Giovanni Ansaldo died in April 1859, bringing about re-organization as the Società Anonima Italiana Gio. Ansaldo & C. Ansaldo's 1916 aviation division was originally referred to simply as the 'Cantieri Aeronautici' - or, sometimes, as the 'Cantieri Aeronautici di Borzoli' ('Borzoli aircraft factory') after its location in the outskirts of Genova. That facility opened in Nov 1916 to produce the S.V.A. series.

The aviation division expanded fairly quickly and was named simply as 'Cantieri aeronautici Ansaldo' - the 'Cantieri aeronautici di Borzoli' being redesignated at cantiere n.1 Borzoli. On a side note; there's probably a list out there somewhere of Ansaldo's cantieri numbers. I suspect that the Bolzaneto plant was n.2. And I know that AER of Orbassano became cantiere n.3 and the Fabbrica Aeroplani Ing. O. Pomilio plant at Corso Marche (Torino) became cantiere n.5. [1] Not sure about n.4.

In 1920, the 'Cantieri Aeronautici' division was rebranded as 'Aeronautica Ansaldo S.A.'. But, the Ansaldo group had over-extended into aviation production during WW1. By 1922, Ansaldo was in serious trouble and the aviation division came under the control of the IRI - a state-run institute meant to bring about Fascist Corporatism. However, by the end of March 1926, Aeronautica Ansaldo S.A. was being broken up and its components sold off.

S.V.A. Designations: Rather than go through a bunch of detailed corrections, I'll just insert my S.V.A. list into the next post. As for 'missing' higher S.V.A. designations, I believe that all such mentions have been the result of confusing Corpo Aeronautico Militare S.V.A. 5 individual aircraft numbers with non-existent Ansaldo type numbers.

BTW, I think it is helpful to know that these recurring acronyms stand for Savoia-Verduzio-Ansaldo - after the military designers Umberto Savoja (Savoia) and Rodolfo Verduzio plus the Ansaldo firm.

__________________________________________

[1] Torino-based cantiere n.5 would be renamed Aeronautica Ansaldo before becoming the Aeronautica d'Italia S.A. In 1927, the factory was sold and became known as the Fiat Aeronautica d'Italia S.A.

 

[Apophenia]

Ansaldo S.V.A. Designation List

S.V. - 1916 first prototype 2-seat recce biplane; x 1
- S.V. : Later re-designed S.V.A. 1

S.V.A. 1 - S.V.-based prototype 2-seat recce biplanes; x 3
- S.V.A. 1 : First prototype S.V later re-designed S.V.A. 1

S.V.A. 2 - Pre-production and production vers. of S.V.A. 1; x 20
- S.V.A. 2 serie I: Pre-production type; revised wing bacing
- S.V.A. 2 serie II: Prod'n type; distinguished by windscreen
-- S.V.A. 2 serie II: S.V.A. 2/II; wingtop mg; revised wings
-- S.V.A. 2/II : 1 x 205 hp S.P.A. 6A inline 6-cyl.; span 9.10 m
- S.V.A. 2 serie III: Prod'n type; synchronised machine gun
- S.V.A. 2 serie IV: Conv. replacement a/c for Vienna raid [1]
-- S.V.A. 2 serie IV leads to Ansalso S.V.A. 9 and S.V.A. 10

S.V.A. 3 - License-built S.V.A. 4 by AER, Orbassano; x 152
- S.V.A. 3: Essentially similar to Ansaldo-produced S.V.A. 4s
- S.V.A.3 ridotto: (Reduced) reduced-span interceptor vers.
- S.V.A. 3 ridotto: 1 x 220 hp S.P.A. 6A 6-cyl.; span 7.75 m

S.V.A. 4 - Ansaldo-built (Borzoli & Bolzaneto) impr. S.V.A. 2
- S.V.A. 4: Dedicated recce variant; photo stability improved*
- S.V.A. 4: 1 x 220 hp S.P.A. 6A inline 6-cylinder; span 9.18 m
-- * Fin area increased compared w/ S.V.A. 2 series airframes
-- * S.V.A. 4 intended as a fighter but manoeuvrability poor
-- S.V.A. 4 consider transition between S.V.A. 2 & S.V.A. 5

S.V.A. 5 - 1917 Ansaldo-built development of S.V.A. 4; x ~2k
- S.V.A. 5: Single-seat, long-range* recce S.V.A. 4 derivative
- S.V.A. 5: 1 x 220-270 hp S.P.A. 6A inline 6-cyl.; span 9.18 m
- S.V.A. 5: 2-seat navigational 'control' a/c; no desig. change
-- S.V.A. 5 nicknamed 'Primo' (indicating 1st true prod'n type)
-- S.V.A. 5 prod'n included cantiere n.3 (ie: AER Orbassano)
-- * Due to larger fuselage fuel tank (compared to S.V.A. 4)

I S.V.A. - (Idro S.V.A.) 1917 twin-float Regia Marina; x 50
- I S.V.A. : Floatplane combining components of S.V.A. 4 & 5
- I S.V.A. : (Initial) Alessandro Guidoni-designed keelless floats
- I S.V.A. : (Impr.) Conventional keeled floats replace 'tubes'
- I S.V.A. : (Experimental) Improved form of Guidoni floats*
-- * Keelless but with 'alette idroplane' (hydroplane fins)

S.V.A. Am - ('Ansaldo marino') 2-seat derivative of I S.V.A.

S.V.A. 6 - 1918 prototype S.V.A. 5 deriv. for photo-recce; x 1
- S.V.A. 6: As S.V.A. 5; 2 x cameras in fuselage; 1 x wing mg

S.V.A. 7 - 1918 prototype S.V.A. 5 deriv. for bombing role; x 1
- S.V.A. 7: As S.V.A. 5; reduced fixed armament + bomb racks
-- S.V.A. 7 had 6 x fuselage-mounted bomb racks; 1 x wing mg

S.V.A. 8 - 1918 prototype S.V.A. 5 deriv.; no details;* x 1
-- * Some sources say bomber (poss. confusing S.V.A. 7?)

S.V.A. 9 - 1918 2-seat S.V.A. 5 deriv. for advanced trainer use
- S.V.A. 9: Dual-control; inspired by one-off S.V.A. 2/IV conv'n
- S.V.A. 9: 1 x 200 hp S.P.A. 6A inline 6-cylinder; span 9.18 m

S.V.A. 10 - 1918 2-seat S.V.A. 5 deriv. for armed recce; x (??)*
- S.V.A. 10: Combat equiv. of S.V.A. 9; fixed & flexible Fiat mgs
- S.V.A. 10: 1 x 200 hp S.P.A. 6A inline 6-cyl.; spans varied **
- S.V.A. 10: 1 x 250 hp I.F. V.6 or 250 hp I.F. SemiAsso 6-cyl.
- S.V.A. 10E: (??) Extended-span variant; (??) unclear
-- * Sources vary on S.V.A. 10 production from 64 to 104 ***
-- ** S.V.A. 10's spans vary from 9.18 m to 9.243 m to 9.45 m
-- *** Total Ansaldo wartime prod. S.V.A. 9 & 10 numbered 222

S.V.A. AP - (Ansaldo Postale) Postwar S.V.A. 10 mailplane
- S.V.A. AP: Adopted French Lamblin radiators; extended span
- S.V.A. AP: 1 x 250 hp Isotta Fraschini V.6 6-cyl.; span 9.45 m

__________________________________________

[1] The S.V.A. 2/IV was an emergency conversion to replace a 2-seat S.V.A. 5 conversion fatally crashed by its pilot, Capitano Luigi Bourlot. Intended to act as a lead for single-seat S.V.A. 5s, this aircraft was replaced by the hasty conversion of an S.V.A. 2. During the 09 Aug 1918 raid on Vienna, Capitano Natale Palli flew the S.V.A. 2/IV from the rear seat under the command of observer Maggiore Gabriele D'Annunzio.

 

[Maveric]

Are photos or drawings of the mentioned aircraft available?
(S.V./S.V.A.1/S.V.A.2/S.V.A.7/S.V.A.8/S.V.A. AP)

 

[Apophenia]

Are photos or drawings of the mentioned aircraft available?
(S.V./S.V.A.1/S.V.A.2/S.V.A.7/S.V.A.8/S.V.A. AP)

A photo of Mario Stoppadi testing the S.V. (aka S.V.A. 1) can be seen here:
-- https://www.aereimilitari.org/immagini/Storia/IGM/AnsaldoSVA/AnsaldoSVA_02.jpg

There are a few drawings here: https://www.aereimilitari.org/Storia/IGM/Ansaldo-SVA_2.htm

Some of those drawings are composites of these closely-related types. Note the ghosted-in scalloping of the trailing edges on airframes with windscreens. This allowed the draftsman to illustrate everything from the S.V.A 1 through S.V.A. 5.

There is also some sideview artwork here: https://www.aereimilitari.org/Storia/IGM/Ansaldo-SVA_6.htm

These include: S.V.A. 1; I S.V.A.; S.V.A. 9; S.V.A. 10 (note varying combined and separated cockpits); and a bonus Isotta Fraschini-powered AP (Ansaldo Postale).

Alas, I very much doubt that you will find any images of the S.V.A.7 or S.V.A.8.

 

[hesham]

SVA 11,12,13,14,15 & 16 were unknown variants

Amazing work as usual my dear Apophenia,

and is there any Info about these projects ?.

 

[Apophenia]

and is there any Info about these projects ?.

No, happy to be proven wrong but ... as I said in reply #3:

As for 'missing' higher S.V.A. designations, I believe that all such mentions have been the result of confusing Corpo Aeronautico Militare S.V.A. 5 individual aircraft numbers with non-existent Ansaldo type numbers.