In 1949, Joseph Kovács, a Hungarian-born aircraft engineer working at the Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnologicas (IPT - Institute of Technical Research)[1] of the University of São Paulo proposed to design and build an experimental high performance light aircraft powered by a surplus Hirth HM 506 engine that had been imported into Brazil before the Second World War for use in an unbuilt aircraft design.

Kovács, with fellow IPT engineer Sylvio de Oliveira, started construction of the design, named "Surubim" (little devil), in a rented workshop.

[2] The Surubim was a low-winged monoplane with a retractable tailwheel undercarriage of all wooden construction with plywood skinning, using Brazilian Pine and Freijo, two indigenous woods.

It was used by the IPT for three years, after which it was transferred to the Rio Claro City Aero Club for use as an aerobatic aircraft, where it remained in use until at least 1977.

[2] It was presented to the Museu Aeroespacial at Rio de Janeiro in 1988, where, after restoration, it was put on display.