The Fizir F1V was the cornerstone of engineer Rudolf Fizir’s series of single-engine, two-seat trainer/reconnaissance biplanes, each powered by different engines.
Test pilot Vladimir Striževski first flew the prototype in late November 1925.
Following the initial design, Dušan Stankov collaborated on further development, leading to five more prototypes and 32 production aircraft, known as the Fizir F1V, over the next three years.
These aircraft were built at the Rogožarski factory, while Zmaj produced 15 Fizir F1V-Wright versions and 5 Jupiter-powered Fizir F1M seaplanes for Naval Aviation in 1930.
In 1932, Zmaj was instrumental in converting several Fizir-Maybach trainers to Lorraine-Dietrich engines, thereby extending their service life under the new designation Fizir-Lorraine 400 hp.
The Fizir F1V aircraft served at flying schools, aiding the transition of students to reconnaissance and bomber planes, and gradually replaced the Hansa-Brandenburg C.I as production allowed.
By the end of 1928, a total of twenty units had been manufactured, followed by an additional twelve in 1929.
These Fizir F1V aircraft were eventually phased out from pilot schools and substituted by the newer Zmaj Fizir FP-2 in 1936.
Nevertheless, a number of these planes continued to be deployed as liaison aircraft or for training at the start of the war in 1941.
The Fizir F1M, the last in the Fizir aircraft series and also known as Fizir first Navy, was a seaplane crafted by “Zmaj” in Zemun under the direction of the Navy Command for reconnaissance missions on floats.
Dubbed the Zmaj Fizir-Jupiter or “Big Fizir,” these planes served the Naval Air Force for reconnaissance and target towing in anti-aircraft training.
In 1931, an NACA ring was installed on one aircraft to improve the cooling of its Jupiter engine and to lessen drag.
During the war, three of these seaplanes were seized by the Italians, but it is not clear if they were ever put to use by them.
Sources One Hundred Years of the Serbian Air Force, 1912-2012-Miroslav Jandrić. Short History of Aviation in Serbia-Čedomir Janić & Ognjan Petrović. Yugoslav Fighter Colours, 1918-1941, Vol 1-Ognjan Petrovic & Djordie Nikolic. Yugoslav Fighter Colours, 1918-1941, Vol 2-Ognjan Petrovic & Djordie Nikolic. Serbian Aviation, 1912 – 1918 – Srpska Avijatika.
