Bücker BU133C Jungmeister G-CMCX (s/n 35)

By David Starkey

Bücker Bu-133C Jungmeister Manufacturers Serial Number 35 was built by Dornier-Fluigzeuge at Altenrhein, Switzerland in 1940 for the Swiss Air Force and allocated (military) s/n U-88. The aircraft is fitted with an original 7-cylinder Siemens Bramo Sh 14A-4 radial engine rated 160hp at 2,200 rpm.

Following military service, all of the Bu-133C’s were decommissioned and transferred or sold to the Swiss Aero Clubs and various private individuals in the late 1960s. Bu-133 U-88 was subsequently sold on to a US buyer in 1971 and remained in the US until 2005, when it returned to Switzerland registered as HB-MIZ.

The aircraft was then sold to a German buyer (also in 2005) and registered as D-EIIV. Following an overhaul of both the airframe and engine the aircraft once again returned to the US in 2016. I purchased the aircraft in June 2021 which came with all of the original Swiss log-books dating back to 1940.

It was carefully disassembled, packed, and exported from the US into the UK by Ben Cox of Heritage Air Services, who subsequently reassembled, inspected and test-flew the aircraft (April 2022) at Heritage Air Services facility, Coventry Airport. The aircraft was virtually ready to fly ‘out of the box’. While stripped, she had new rudder cables, some bearings and bushings, a couple of instruments were replaced with ones that indicated imperial units, a back-up lap belt added and all of the hoses pressure tested. That just left weighing, and the creation of a new weight schedule.

From my perspective, it all made it very easy and was a rewarding experience. I now have a fantastic aircraft on an LAA Permit – let’s hope for some favourable weather! ■

If your aircraft has featured recently in the magazine and has subsequently completed its maiden flight, Project News would like to hear from you at: projectnews@laa.uk.com

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12/4/2022

Name & address held by LAA Engineering

■ G-CLHY Miles M14A Magister (s/n 873) 26/4/2022

Name & address held by LAA Engineering

■ G-CMCX Bucker BU133C (s/n 35) 4/4/2022

Name & address held by LAA Engineering

■ G-CMEJ Van’s RV-8 (s/n 83330) 22/4/2022

Name & address held by LAA Engineering

■ G-OJGC Van’s RV-4 (LAA 181-14971) 29/4/2022

Name & address held by LAA Engineering

Right Miles Magister G-CLHY made its first flight at Henstridge.