History

Carl Bücker has been for about ten years director at Svenska Aero AB (SAAB), Sweden and returned to Berlin in 1932. Together with Anders Anderson, a former SAAB designer he raised the "Bücker Flugzeugbau GmbH".
The first aircraft to be designed and produced was the Bü-131 Jungmann, equipped with a Hirth HM-60R engine, rated at 80 hp.
This aircraft was selected to become the primary trainer of the Luftwaffe

Later the aircraft was also built under license in Switzerland, Spain, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Japan.
In Japan over 1200 examples were built as Kokusai Ki-86 and also as Kyūshū K9W

In Spain CASA built the type until the sixties of the twentieth century.

Versions.

Bu 131A:
Two seat primary trainer.
Bu 131B:
Improved version with a more powerful Hirth HM 504A-2 engine.
Bu 131C:
Experimental version with a Cirrus Minor engine, rated 90 hp.
Bu 131D:
Succeeded the Bu-131B in 1938, with smaller changes and improvements.
Kokusai Ki-86A:
Japanese license for the Japanese air force.
Kyūshū K9W1:
Japanese license for the Japanese navy.
Tatra T-131:
Czech license version.
Aero C-4:
Czech production version during the war.
Aero C-104:
Czech post war version equipped with a Walter-Minor 4-III engine.
CASA I.131:
Spanish license built version.

 

Technical Information Bücker Bü-131B Jungmann
Dimensions:
Length: 6,62 m Wingspan: 7,4 m
Height: 2,35 m Wing area: 13,5 m2
Weight:
Empty weight: 380 kg Max. start weight: 670 kg
Performances:
Max. Speed: 183 km/hr Rate of climb: 168 m/min
Cruising Speed: 170 km/hr    
Range: 628 km Ceiling: 4050 m
Miscellaneous:
Engine: One Hirth HM 504A-2 rated 100 hp
Crew: Two men
Armament: None

 

Technical Information Bücker Bü-131D Jungmann
Dimensions:
Length: 6,62 m Wingspan: 7,4 m
Height: 2,35 m Wing area: 13,5 m2
Weight:
Empty weightt: 380 kg Max. start weight 670 kg
Performances:
Max. Speed: 183 km/hr Rate of climb: 168 m/min
Cruising Speed: 170 km/hr    
Range: 628 km Ceiling: 4050 m
Miscellaneous:
Engine: One Hirth HM 504A-2 rated 105 hp
Crew: Two men
Armament: None

 


In service with LVA and NEIAF

 In service with NEIAF

The NEIAF ordered six examples in 1939. These were delivered early 1940 at Andir and serialled BJ-001 til BJ-006. The three bombing groups received each one aircraft. One went to the flying school plus two were kept as spare.
In February 1941 it was decided to use the Jungmanns for the training of fighter pilots.
Most aircraft were lost due to accidents and the Japanese attacks.

In 1938 the so called NILF, Nederlands-Indisch Luchtvaart Fonds (Netherlands East Indies Aviation Fund) was raised. This fund was to be used for the training of civil pilots and also for the acquisition of military airmen.
Siz Jungmanns were bought, which were delivered in June 1939. These aircraft all received civil serials. Just before the war there were plans to claim these aircraft for the military, but this never was never realized.

 In service with LVA.

In 1937 the LVA decided to buy one Bu-131 Jungmann for the training of fighter-pilots. Before a pilot was allowed to fly on e.g. the Fokker D.XXI, he was supposed to have flown several hours of aerobatics training on the Bu-131.
The aircraft survived the bombing of De Vlijt on Texel, where the training unit was located and was moved to Germany and used by the Luftwaffe.

Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann, reg. 75. Vooraanzicht.
Front view of Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann, serial 75.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann, reg. 75. Zijaanzicht rechts.
Side view of Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann, serial 75.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann, reg. 75. Achteraanzicht.
Rear view of Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann, serial 75.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]

 


Serial overview LVA and NEIAF.

Bücker Bü-131D-6 Jungmann  LVA.
Serial Construction nr. Date in service Date out of service Notes
75   1937 14-05-1940  Captured by the Germans

 

Bücker Bü-131B Jungmann  NEIAF.
Serial Construction nr. Date in service Date out of service Notes
The aircraft were ordered in 1939 en delivered early 1940s
BJ-001   1940 10-1940 Accident at Maospati (Malang)
BJ-002   1940 19-02-1942 Several times on loan to aviation club Djokja;
Lost due to bombardment of air base Andir
BJ-003   1940 08-03-1942 Destroyed by ML-KNIL at Tasik Malaja.
BJ-004   1940 ??  
BJ-005   1940 ??  
BJ-006   1940 06-1941 Lost due to accident.

 


1/72nd Scale

Kits

  • Huma
    • Kit no 2504: Injection moulded kit; No longer in production.
  • Airmodel
    • Kit YY: Vacu-form kit, of rather poor quality.
  • Czech Master Resin
    • Kit CMR72-210: a resin model of the Bu-131A/D.
      This kit has also decals for e.g. a Dutch (civil) NILF Jungmann.
    • Kit CMR72-211: a resin model of the Avia C4/C104 Jungmann (Czech Air Force).
    • Kit CMR72-208: a resin model of the Ki86/K9W1 Cypress (Japanese Licence Bu131).
  • Strein
    • Kit Bu131: an injection moulded kit of the Bucker Bu-131 Jungmann / Aero C104.

1/48th Scale

Kits

      • MPM
        • Kit 48032: a model of a Kokusai Ki86 Cypress (Bu131).
      • Heritage Aviation
        • Kit CK48029: a resin model of a Bucker Bu-131 Jungmann.

Modelling add-on

      • - 
        • Kit -: -.

Decals

      • Dutch Decal
        • Set 72023: bevat onder andere decals voor een Indische Bu-131, BJ-002 met oranje driehoeken.
        • Set 72064: bevat onder andere decals voor een Indische Bu-131, BJ-002 met oranje driehoeken.
      • Dutch Decal
        • Set 72023: bevat onder andere decals voor een Indische Bu-131, BJ-002 met oranje driehoeken.
        • Set 72064: bevat onder andere decals voor een Indische Bu-131, BJ-002 met oranje driehoeken.
      • FlevoDecal
        • Set FD72-012 ML KNIL 1939-1942:A set decals containing decals for five different Brewster Buffaloes plus Curtiss Hawk 75, Curtis CW-22, Curtiss CW-22, Lockheed Lodestar, Ryan STM; Lockheed 12, Bücker Bu131 Messerschmidt Me-108  and martin WH-1 and WH-2.

 


Scheme Colour name FS number Humbrol XtraColor
Bucker Bu-131B ML-KNIL
Standard #1 Overall Aluminium dope ~7178 191 X216
During the second half of 1940 the aircraft of NEIAF were camouflaged.
It is not certain that this also happened woth the Bucker Jungmanns.
Standard #2 Overall Jong Blad (green) ~4092 149 X114
Bucker Bu-131D-6 LVA
Possibly the aircraft was overall RLM 05 when it was delivered. Initially with Dutch roundels, from the fall of 1939 these were replaced with orange triangles, but most probably it was painted in LVA Blue.
Standard #1 Overall LVA Blue     WEM AC D05, LVA Light Blue

Check www.paint4models.com for an extensive conversion table with lots of colour and paint systems.

 

Bucker Bu131D Jungmann-1-SMALL
LVA Schema 1: Bücker Bu-131D-6 Jungmann, ca 1938.
Bucker Bu131D Jungmann-2-SMALL
LVA Schema 2: Bücker Bu-131D-6 Jungmann, ca 1940.
Bucker-Bu131B_Jungmann-SMALL
ML-KNIL Schema 1: Bücker Bu-131B Jungmann, ca 1940.

 


Literature.

Nederlandse Militaire Luchtvaart in Beeld., deel 1 Hugo Hooftman pag. 144 1977 Uitgever Europese Bibliotheek, Zaltbommel
De Luchtstrijd rond Borneo P.C.Boer   1987 Uitg. Van Holkema & Warendorf
De Luchtstrijd om Indië P.C.Boer e.a.   1990 Uitg. Van Holkema & Warendorf
Luchtvaartwereld; 8e jaargang nummer 3: De Bucker Bu-131 Jungmann   Pag. 93 - 94 1990 Uitgeverij Ten Brink, Meppel
Camouflage en Kentekens J.Greuter e.a. Pag. 47; 159; 161; 165 1997 Bonneville – Bergen (NH)

 

Websites.