Bücker Flugzeugbau

Bücker-Flugzeugbau GmbH

Company type	GmbH
Industry	Aerospace, Aircraft manufacturing
Founded	1932
Founder	Carl Bücker
Defunct	Post-World War II (exact date not specified)
Headquarters	Johannisthal, Berlin (initial), later Rangsdorf , Germany
Products	Sports aircraft, military trainers, licensed aircraft production

Bücker-Flugzeugbau GmbH was a German aircraft manufacturer established in 1932, renowned primarily for its exceptional sports aircraft that were later adopted as trainers by the Luftwaffe throughout World War II.

History

The enterprise was initiated by Carl Bücker, a former officer of the Imperial German Navy during World War I. Afterward, he spent several years in Sweden where he founded the Svenska Aero company. Upon selling this venture at the close of 1932, Bücker returned to Germany and inaugurated his initial factory in Johannisthal, Berlin, in 1934. A year later, he relocated operations to a larger, purpose-built facility in Rangsdorf.

Among Bücker's most significant achievements were the Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann (1934), the Bücker Bü 133 Jungmeister (1936), and the Bücker Bü 181 Bestmann (1939). In addition to these original models, the firm produced aircraft under license from other manufacturers, including the Focke-Wulf Fw 44, the DFS 230, and also manufactured parts for the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, Junkers Ju 87, and Henschel Hs 293.

During the wartime period, forced labor was employed within Bücker's facilities. Up to 500 Soviet prisoners were held in a nearby camp under harsh conditions, alongside forced laborers from countries such as France and Italy.

Following World War II, the company's manufacturing sites fell within the Soviet occupation zone and were subsequently confiscated. The firm was dismantled, with the Soviet military utilizing the premises for aircraft maintenance until their departure from Germany in the 1990s.

Postwar production of the Bü 181 continued in Czechoslovakia and Egypt.

List of aircraft

• Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann (Young Man) (1934) – single-engine biplane trainer with two seats
• Bücker Bü 133 Jungmeister (Young Champion) (1935) – single-seat advanced trainer and aerobatic biplane
• Bücker Bü 134 – monoplane prototype
• Bücker Bü 180 Student (1937) – low-wing monoplane trainer accommodating two occupants
• Bücker Bü 181 Bestmann (Bestman) (1939) – low-wing monoplane serving as a two-seat trainer and utility aircraft
• Bücker Bü 182 Kornett

See also

• List of aircraft manufacturers
• List of RLM aircraft designations
• Volksflugzeug

References

Bibliography

• Rieger, Klaus-Jochen and Rieger, Christoph. Faszination Bücker Flugzeuge (Fascination Bücker Aircraft) (German/English bilingual edition). MeinFachverlag, Germany, 2014. ISBN 978-3-9814124-1-3.
• König, Erwin. Die Bücker-Flugzeuge (The Bücker Aircraft) (German/English bilingual). Nara Verlag, Martinsried, Germany, 1987. ISBN 3-925671-00-5.
• König, Erwin. Die Bückers, Die Geschichte der ehemaligen Bücker-Flugzeugbau-GmbH und ihrer Flugzeuge (in German). (1979)
• Wietstruk, Siegfried. Bücker-Flugzeugbau, Die Geschichte eines Flugzeugwerkes (German language). Aviatik Verlag, D-82041 Oberhaching, Germany, 1999. ISBN 3-925505-28-8.