Bucker
Bu 133 C Jungmeister
Photo: Robert Deering 10/23/2006
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Chantilly, Virginia
Bu 133 C Jungmeister

The Bücker Jungmeister dominated the aerobatic scene in Europe and the United States from the mid-1930s through the 1940s. Introduced in 1935 by Carl Bücker as a single-seat version of the Bü 131 A Jungmann, a two-place advanced aerobatic trainer, the Jungmeister became a favorite of European flying clubs.

Romanian pilot Alex Papana brought this Jungmeister to the United States crated in the airship Hindenburg and flew it at the 1937 Cleveland Air Races. Mike Murphy reregistered the airplane as his own and flew it to win the 1938 and '40 American Aerobatic Championships. Beverly "Bevo" Howard then bought it and won the '46 and '47 championships. Howard was killed in an accident in this airplane in 1971, but his estate restored the Jungmeister and donated it to the Smithsonian in 1973.
SPECIFICATIONS: PERFORMANCE:
Span:  6.6 m (21 ft 7 in) Maximum speed:  241 km/h (150 mph)
Length:  5.9 m (19 ft 4 in) Cruising speed: 
Height:  2.25 m (7 ft 4 in) Range: 
Empty Weight:   420 kg (925 lb) Service ceiling: 
Gross Weight:  585 kg (1,290 lb)  
Crew: 
Engines:  Warner, 185 hp
   
SOURCE:  Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum  
Bücker-Flugzeugbau GmbH

Bücker-Flugzeugbau GmbH was a German aircraft manufacturer founded in 1932. It was most notable for Its highly regarded sports planes which went on to be used as trainers by the Luftwaffe during World War II.

The company was founded by Carl Clemens Bücker, who had served as an officer in the Imperial German Navy during World War I and then spent some years in Sweden establishing the Svenska Aero factory. With the sale of this business at the end of 1932, Bücker returned to his native Germany where he opened his new factory in Johannisthal, Berlin in 1934, but moved to a new built bigger factory in Rangsdorf in 1935.

Bücker's three great successes were the Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann (1934), the Bü 133 Jungmeister (1936) and the Bü 181 Bestmann (1939). As well as these, the company built designs from several other manufacturers under licence, including the Focke-Wulf Fw 44, the DFS 230, and components for the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, Junkers Ju 87, and Henschel Hs 293.

At the end of World War II, the company’s premises fell into the Soviet occupation zone, and were seized. The company was then broken up.

The Bü 181 continued to be built in Czechoslovakia and Egypt after the war.

Aircraft

  • Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann (Young Man) (1934) single-engine two-seat trainer, biplane
  • Bücker Bü 133 Jungmeister (Young Champion) (1935) single-engine one-seat advanced trainer/aerobatic, biplane
  • Bücker Bü 134 monoplane (prototype)
  • Bücker Bü 180 Student (1937) single-engine two-seat trainer, low-wing monoplane
  • Bücker Bü 181 Bestmann (Bestman) (1939) single-engine two-seat trainer/utility, low-wing monoplane
  • Bücker Bü 182 Kornett

Source: Wikipedia

Replica
Photo: Robert Deering 7/21/2018
 Frontiers of Flight Museum
Dallas, Texas

This replica was built by the late Ken Larson, a museum volunteer and a former Braniff Airlines Captain using drawings by Frank Price and expert advice from Jim Swick. The construction was accomplished over a 2 year period from March 1970 to March 9, 1972. After completing its initial flight,  Mr. Larson replaced the original 160 hp radial engine with a 260 hp Lycoming IO-540. He flew this aircraft in aerobatic competitions in the Intermediate Category from 1973 through 1999, winning at least 41 First Place Championships.

Mr. Larsons’ flying career with Braniff spanned 35 years, beginning in Douglas DC-3s and ending in the Boeing 747. He was one of the first Braniff Captains to fly the Aerospatiale Concorde Supersonic Transport.

This aircraft was donated by builder and pilot Ken Larson and his wife Sammy. Both were long time volunteers of the Frontiers of Flight Museum.

Source: Frontiers of Flight Museum