The Sparviero design, begun in 1937, was intended as an aerobatic competition glider comparable with the 1936 DFS Habicht.
By August 1938 the canopy glazing had been extended forward to form the nose profile and enhance the view.
The Sparviero landed on a skid which extended from the nose to under mid-chord, aided by a shallow tail bumper.
The following month Mantelli flew it from Bolongna to Rome where on the 15 May, during a visit from Adolf Hitler it gave a well received aerobatic demonstration.
In August it was flown, as part of the Pavullo team, by Captain Laurin in the Second Asiago National Gliding Competition.