Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
B
arrel-rolling a Bcker
Jungmeister through a
superb September sky with
the pulse of the engine
throbbing through the The heart of any powered aircraft is its
throttle and the warm wind playfully engineand the Jungmeister has a big
tugging at my silk scarf is just too much heart. Tightly encased beneath the big
fun. My one regret? I wish I didnt have bumped cowling is a Siemens-Bramo
to give it back! SH14A-A4 seven-cylinder air-cooled The fuselage is constructed from
Its widely accepted amongst vintage radial, which produces up to 160hp at welded chrome-molybdenum steel-tube
aircraft aficionados that Carl Bcker 2,400rpm. It turns a laminated ash and covered by a combination of
produced two of the best-handling Hoffmann two-blade, fixed pitch propeller aluminium panels forward of the
biplanes ever madethe famous and is fed by a single 92 litre fuselage- cockpit and fabric aft, while the wings
Jungmann and the fabulous mounted tank, just aft of the firewall. The are made almost entirely from wood and
Jungmeister. The prototype B 133 first fuel supply is actually a tank within a fabric. There are ailerons on both
flew in 1935 and soon generated tank, fuel being drawn via a flop tube wings, which feature eleven degrees of
considerable interest. Not only was it the inside the smaller one. Quantity sweep-back. N-type interplane struts
Pitts Special of its day, but it remained remaining is shown by an indicator support the centre-section, while the
competitive as an aerobatic mount until needle attached to a float and viewed outer wing panels are carried by
the 1960s. Its an iconic machine. Most through a Perspex pipe projecting parallel struts braced with diagonal
recent addition to the Old Warden-based vertically up from the fuselage. streamlined wires. The ailerons and
stable of well-known vintage aircraft The cowling can be quickly removed elevator are actuated by pushrods with
collector and renowned Storch pilot for easy access to the engine and cables for the rudder.
Peter Holloway, the Jungmeister comes accessories, while to just check the oil The main undercarriage consists
with an excellent reputation. theres a small hatch on top of the of spring-loaded Vees, with shock
Having had a full briefing from cowling. The original carburettors have absorption provided by a
experienced warbird pilot Stu been replaced by Ellisons, as the stock combination of oil damping and
Goldspink, and a further chat about the carbs tended to flood in sustained steel springs, and it is interesting
type with the Shuttleworth Collections knife-edge flight (aerobatic ace Manx to note that the legs are
Chief Pilot, Dodge Bailey, it was time to Kelly also noted a motor cough as she compressed considerably when on
examine the machine in detail. From switches to the inverted carb when the ground (in flight they extend by
a distance this stubby little aircraft slow-rolling James Gilberts standard about twenty centimetres). The brakes
has a pugnacious, almost wilful look Jungmeister for Pilots original 1972 are cable-actuated drums.
about itbut, as well see, looks can flight test). Peters aircraft also has a An unusual facet of the tail unit is that
be deceptive... Christen inverted oil system. the elevators use a fairly thick aerofoil
Above, from top: the name that for thirty years spelled
worlds best aerobatic biplane; superb detailing
includes these leather gaiters for strut and bracing-
wire fittings; offset hinges give the elevator an
effective aerodynamic slot; adjustable for reach the
rather wonderful stick grip; and those hyper-extending
oil-damped sprung undercarriage legs
SPECIFICATION
DIMENSIONS
Wingspan 6.60m
Length 5.90m any airshow punters would be demanding threshold with just a hint of power on I
Height 2.25m a refund! A further glance at the float begin easing the stick back. It all feels
Wing area 11.9sq m confirms that its definitely time to be just right and, you know, it very nearly
heading home, so its select Normal on the is. The bulbous nose slowly rears up,
WEIGHTS AND LOADINGS fuel valve, a quick wobble of the wobble completely obscuring the forward field of
Empty weight 420kg pump and start searching for Old Warden. view, but my confidence is up and my
Max takeoff weight 610kg On the way back power is briefly set to the peripheral vision firmly focused. With
Useful load 190kg max continuous barely a bump the
Fuel capacity 92 litres of 1,900rpm for a wheels kiss the
Load factor +4/-2g look at the cruise. The Jungmeisters grass, just past
This gives 90kt the numbers and
PERFORMANCE while burning low wing loading right on the
Vne 182kt about 36 litres per means that it doesnt centreline. But its
Cruise 100kt hour, for a range been six weeks
Stall clean 45kt of about 250nm. have any vices since my previous
Take off distance (over 50ft) 280m Cruising back flight, and Ive
Landing distance (over 50ft) 300m towards Old Warden with that lovely forgotten how much the oleos extend in
Climb 1,200fpm round motor rumbling away (its one of flight. Instead of a perfect three-pointer
Range 250nm the smoothest radials Ive ever flown the mains touch first and theres a slight
behind) and a waterfall of warm air skip before the Jungmeister settles gently
ENGINE AND PROPELLER flowing around the cockpit is just onto the groundbugger!
Siemens-Bramo Sh14A air-cooled wonderful. Back at the pumps I switch off the mags,
seven-cylinder radial, producing Back in the circuit, Im determined to the glorious rumble dies away and the
160hp (119kW) at 2,400rpm, and get it right for my last landing. Ignoring prop lazily huffs over the last couple of
driving a Hoffmann two-blade xed
the displaced threshold (which does compressions and stops. In case you
pitch propeller
produce a rather odd picture) I havent guessed by now, I really like the
MANUFACTURER concentrate on the numbers, and the Jungmeister: its a fascinating
Bcker Flugzeugbau & Dornier, second Im abeam them slowly close the contradiction of a flying machine, in that
Germany/CASA, Spain throttle, ease the elevator trim back and despite the (for its age) sparkling
immediately commence turning in, performance and crisp handling, the low
intending to go from the downwind leg wing loading means that it doesnt have
then exit stage left to tumultuous onto short final in one great sweeping any vices or vicious traits, and is actually
applause or not. You see, the snag is curve, the way aeroplanes like this should really quite easy to fly. Its fantastic in the
that the only things I do near the ground be flown. Due to the blustery wind I use air, while the steerable tailwheel, toe-
are take off and land. Consequently, 65/60kt, and with the wind sighing in the operated brakes, large rudder and four
although my little routine mightve been wires the Jungmeister comes rumbling ailerons make it pretty tractable on the
quite good (and it certainly felt pretty over the fence. All the speeds and angles ground too. It also just oozes charisma.
respectable) as I never went below 2,000ft are bang on, and as we cross the What a truly magnificent machine!