Back in the early 1990s Janusz Karasiewicz started to build Bucker Jungmann biplanes in Poland. The company was called Serwis Samolotow Historycznych ( SSH ) and they used plans and drawings from the Czech company Tatra. During World War 2 with Czechoslovakia occupied by the Germans the Tatra factory had licensed built Bucker Bu 131 Jungmann for the Luftwaffe as the T-131.
The first Polish built SSH T-131 Jungmann SP-PPF first flew in summer 1994 powered by a Walter Minor 4-111 engine. Production versions ( T-131PA ) used the more powerful M332AK suited for inverted flight and offering 140HP. The new build T-131 Jungmann sold well with many examples going to owners in Germany and Austria and others to Netherlands, Italy and South Africa. In 2006 Janusz Karasiewicz was killed in a FK-12 Comet accident at Bydgoszcz. Production continued until 2010 by which time approx 30 Jungmann had been built by SSH - the production rights were sold on in 2011 to Air Res.
Air Res T-131PA Jungmann SP-YFB c/n PA200 - photo thanks to Air Res
Air Res are based at Jasionka airfield just north of Rzeszow, Poland. Their first T-131 Jungmann SP-YFB first flew in January 2013 - this is also powered by the M332AK engine. The aircraft was exhibited at the Aero 2013 trade show at Friedrichshafen in April 2013. The aircraft has been painted to match that worn by Bucker Bu 131 Jungmann aircraft that took part in the 1936 Olympic games held in Berlin. A second Air Res Jungmann c/n PA201 is currently in production.
Steve
