BÜCKER JUNGMEISTER

The Bücker Bü 133 Jungmeister was a single-seat advanced trainer produced by Bücker Flugzeugbau in Germany in the 1930s. The aircraft was constructed with wood and tubular steel and covered in fabric. The Bü 133 was a smaller version of its predecessor, the Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann, and was first flown in 1935 by Luise Hoffmann, the first female works pilot in Germany. At the 1936 International Aerobatic Championship at Rangsdorf, the aircraft showcased impressive aerobatic agility, but only two orders were received for the Bü 133B. The majority of production focused on the 160 hp (119 kW) Siemens-Bramo Sh 14A radial powered Bü 133C, which featured a shorter fuselage and a distinctive cowling design. Dornier Flugzeugwerke manufactured 52 under license for the Swiss Air Force, and 25 were built for the Spanish Air Force by CASA. In the 1960s, an American pilot named Jack Canary obtained construction plans for the Bü-133 from Spain and a production license, with the aim of starting production of the Jungmeister in Germany to meet expected high demand from the USA. The first new-build aircraft was completed in 1968, but Canary’s death later that year caused the project to lose momentum, with Hirth stopping production in 1971 after four aircraft were built. The Bü-133C served with the Luftwaffe, Spain, and Switzerland, and many examples remain in private hands today.