Savoia, Verduzio (designers) and Ansaldo (company) set out to build a fighter but the resulting SVA was deemed unsuitable for that role. It could however fly very far, high and fast and so became an excellent reconnaissance plane. This is one of the aircraft of the propaganda Flight over Vienna in 1918. The Lion of St. Mark was the insigna of the 87a squadriglia 'Serenissima' and the painting depicts general Gabriele d'Annunzio, the organiser of the famous flight.