The first prototype flew in 1936, and the aircraft became one of the greatest recconaissance aircraft of all time.

Powered by an Argus AS 10-C eight cylinder air-cooled piston engine of 176 kW, the aircraft has a wingspan of 14.22 meters, a height of 3 meters and a length of 10 meters. The maximum speed is 175 k/mh. The SAAF aquired it FI 156C-7 in 1946.