The German Bücker Bü 131 "Jungmann" (Young man) was a 1930s basic training aircraft which was used by the Luftwaffe during World War II.
[edit] Development
After serving in the Kaiserliche Marine in World War I, Carl Bücker moved to Sweden where he became managing director of Svenska Aero AB (SAAB). He later returned to Germany with Anders Anderson, a young designer from SAAB. "Bücker Flugzeugbau GmbH" was founded in Berlin in 1932, with the first aircraft to see production being the Bü 131 Jungmann.
[edit] Operational history
Sturdy and agile, the Jungmann was selected as the primary basic trainer for the German Luftwaffe. Production licenses were granted to Switzerland, Spain, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Japan, the last one of which built over 1,200 examples for Army and Navy Air Services (as the Kokusai Ki-86 and Kyūshū K9W respectively). In Spain, production continued at CASA until the early 1960s. The Jungmann was retained as the Spanish Air Force's primary basic trainer until 1968.
About 200 Jungmanns survive to this day, many having been fitted with modern engines.
[edit] Variants
- Bü 131A : Two-seat primary trainer biplane. Initial production version.
- Bü 131B : Improved version, powered by the more powerful Hirth HM 504A-2 piston engine.
- Bü 131C : Experimental version, fitted with 67 kW (90 hp) Cirrus Minor piston engine. One built.
- Ki-86A : Japanese production version for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service.
- K9W1 : Japanese production version for the Imperial Japanese Navy.
- Tatra T-131 : Czechoslovakia, pre-war licence production in Tatra Koprivnice.
- Aero C-4 : Mass-produced in Aero factory in occupied Czechoslovakia during wartime under original Bücker Bü 131B designation, used postwar with original Hirth engine.
- Aero C-104 : Czechoslovakia, postwar development with a Walter Minor 4-III engine, 260 aircraft built.
- CASA 1.131 : Spanish license-built versions
[edit] Operators
Czechoslovakia
Independent State of Croatia
Finland
Germany
Hungary
Japan
Netherlands
Romania
South Africa
Spain
Switzerland
[edit] Specifications (Bü 131B)
Data from Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: Two (student and instructor)
- Length: 6.62 m (21 ft 8 in)
- Wingspan: 7.40 m (24 ft 3 in)
- Height: 2.35 m (7 ft 6 in)
- Wing area: 13.5 m² (145 ft²)
- Empty weight: 380 kg (840 lb)
- Loaded weight: 670 kg (1,500 lb)
- Powerplant: 1× Hirth HM 504 four-cylinder inverted inline engine, 70 kW (100 hp)
Performance
[edit] See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
[edit] References
- Notes
- ^ Bridgeman 1946, p. 158.
- Bibliography
- Bridgeman, Leonard. “The Bücker Bü 131B “Jungmann”.” Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London: Studio, 1946. ISBN 1-85170-493-0.
- König, Erwin. Bücker Bü 131 "Jungmann"(Flugzeug Profile 27) (in German). D-86669 Stengelheim, Germany: Unitec Medienvertrieb e.K.,
- König, Erwin. Die Bücker-Flugzeuge (The Bücker Aircraft) (bilingual German/English). Martinsried, Germany: Nara Verlag, 1987. ISBN 3-925671-00-5.
- König, Erwin. Die Bückers, Die Geschichte der ehemaligen Bücker-Flugzeugbau-GmbH und ihrer Flugzeuge (in German). (1979)
- Mondey, David. The Hamlyn Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II. London: Chancellor Press Ltd, 2006. ISBN 1-85152-966-7.
- Sarjeant, L.F. Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann (Aircraft in Profile 222). Windsor, Berkshire, UK: Profile Publications Ltd., 1971.
- Smith, J.Richard and Antony L. Kay. German Aircraft of the Second World War. London: Putnam and Company Ltd., 3rd impression 1978, pp. 91–92. ISBN 0-370-00024-2.
- Wietstruk, Siegfried. Bücker-Flugzeugbau, Die Geschichte eines Flugzeugwerkes (in German). D-82041 Oberhaching, Germany: Aviatik Verlag, 1999. ISBN 3-925505-28-8.
- Wood, Tony and Bill Gunston. Hitler's Luftwaffe: A Pictorial History and Technical Encyclopedia of Hitler's Air Power in World War II. London: Salamander Books Ltd., 1977, p. 139. ISBN 0-86101-005-1.
[edit] External links
| Japanese Navy Trainer Aircraft designations | | | | |
| Lists relating to aviation | | | General | | | | Military | | | | Accidents/incidents | | | | Records | | |
