1935 Bücker Bü 133L Jungmeister - N515

This Bücker Jungmeister was owned by longtime aerobatic champion Mike Murphy. During the 1940s, he won numerous competitions with his first Jungmeister which was originally owned by the famous pilot Alex Papană. The Papană Bücker was flown to the U.S. from Germany in the dirigible Hindenburg for the 1936 Cleveland Air Races. Murphy sold that first Jungmeister to Bevo Howard who flew it in air shows for more than 20 years.

Murphy was the first American to use the Jungmeister, all but inarguably the top aerobatic airplane in its day. This aircraft originally belonged to Spanish aviator Col. José Luis Aresti Aguirre, best known for his creation of the Aresti Catalog of aerobatic maneuvers and notation. Murphy discovered the airplane in pieces while visiting Aresti in Spain. They made a deal and the aircraft was shipped back to the U.S. It was rebuilt over the years 1966-1967 and converted to a Warner 185 hp engine.

Bücker Jungmeister N515 was donated to the EAA AirVenture Museum in 1973 by Mike Murphy. Tom Poberezny had the pleasure of flying the aircraft from its home in Findlay, Ohio, to Wisconsin, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Donated by Mike Murphy

Aircraft Make & Model: Bücker Bü 133L Jungmeister
Length: 20 feet 2 inches
Wingspan: 21 feet 7.5 inches
Height:  7 feet 9.5 inches
Empty Weight: 902 pounds
Gross Weight: 1,287 pounds
Seats: 1
Powerplant: Warner Scarab
Horsepower: 185 hp
Maximum Speed: 150 mph