Mike sent me lots of pictures and we corresponded over the course of a few weeks. The results are reproduced here with his permission. Some of the pictures Mike provided are reproduced below, many others are included in the picture gallery organized in "Michael Parker Stow Collection " Be sure to click the "Read More" link at the bottom of this introduction!
I owned 1001(GAXNI) 1971-1978,and 11(GAXIH)1979-1983. When Mike Coburn flicked XNI into a Piper Carribean in 1970,Maurice Robinson convinced me it could be rebuilt. Having been friendly with Tony Bianchi for some time,and looked over and flown Tom Rose's GAXMT, I decided to get it. I displayed it as well as Military Aircraft , until the late 70s.
Woodson K Woods was over for the Blackbushe Airshow,I think'78? He persuaded Doug Arnold to sell him SL721 Mk16 Spitfire,and when he saw my Display in the Bucker,he wanted that as well. Woody crashed it, apparently trying a go around, and it torque rolled into the ground. Woody I was told, had to be cut out,and never flew it again. I think he put it in Doug Champlin's Museum in Phoenix. On your other site I find that Steve Craig now owns it. I have emailed him, since I have loads of Photos of both XNI and XIH, which no one would have seen from that era.
XNI was the 1st Production Airframe built at Rangsdorf. Unfortunately I did not realise this, since all the paperwork from Roersch was exSwiss Air Force and referred to Dornier Airframes only. It was only after Paul Skogstadt and John Underwood saw it, that it was confirmed by them as to its birthplace!! Also it had been with the German Team in 1936 Olympics at Berlin, as the spare Aircraft. It was loaned to a Swiss Pilot, Hars Horling,who was not placed, but was regularly flown in practice by Hagenberg. My Boss at the time,P ete Sheppard of Sea Fury fame, said we should have another Jungmeister, so we sold our Zlin 526 GAWPG to poor old Roy Legg, who killed himself in it, 7 years to the day that his mentor Neville Browning had killed himself in a 326 Zlin at the same Air Display at Seething, Norfolk.
We had bought GAXIH from Roy in part exchange, which Roy had bought from Neville Browning in the batch of 4 Aircraft he acquired from Albert Roersch in 1969-G AXNI, G AXIH, G AXMT, GAYSJ. The lucky owners of the first examples in UK of this magnificent aerobatic aircraft were in sequence-Mike Cobur!n, Roy Legg, Tom Rose, James Gilbert. When Pete Sheppard had to go the the Air Force at Chivenor to help train Hawk Pilots (Falklands was on ), he could no longer fly XIH, so it was sold in 1983 to the Regensberg Museum, where I think it remains. Incidentally it was flown to Germany from White Waltham by an Ex FW190 Piolt in his late 60s, Hubert Hahne. When we bought a Brand New wax coccooned BMW Built Seimens from Roersch, I got to fly at Grenchen a Lycoming Jungmann, HB UTH. Does this still exist? It was beautiful to fly, as it had a 180 Lycoming with full inverted oil/petrol system. It had more streamlined wing leading edges as well.
Regards Mike Stow,now retired after 42 years of Flying.
What a wonderful information. Thank you so much for sharing this with me. It is exactly the type of information that Bucker owners cherish so I would like to confirm that it is OK for me to publish this on the Bucker website.
It seems that HB-UTH still exists and is current on the Swiss register of civil a/c. - Let me see what else I can find out about it.
Thanks again for the wonderful provenance.
Steve
No problem at all.This sort of thing needs to be published,otherwise the information dies with the individual.
Having managed to retire from over 40 years of Military and Civil Flying, with all my legs and arms intact, I now appreciate what has been lost when I remember gems of information, that should have been taped and recorded. No one bothered so priceless information is lost for ever.
I tried to do engineers courses for most Aircraft I had to Fly, so I acquired a mechanical sympathy with the equipment I had to use. This I found very useful in nursing problem machinery, when others lost valuable aircraft with snags that may have not been as bad as they suspected!! I was instrumental in keeping 3 Sea Furies alive and well over the 70s and early 80s. Unfortunately all 3 are now lost, since my knowledge of how to look after them was not given to others who followed. I was not given the time to inform my successors by my superiors, and they did not care enough to think about it. Amazing but true. I went out to Grenchen and Porrentry (They use that when the snow melts,and very beautiful) and at length spoke to Albert Reosch-I cant quite remember how that was spelt-in his bomb proof nuclear shelter!!!!!! That was how we acquired this Wax Coccooned BMW built Seimens. It still had Luftwaffe stamps all over it . He was concerned that these 4 Bu133s that Neville Browning had bought for British Pilots would survive. It seems they have, although with some trauma. Anyway, if you want any more information, dont hesitate to ask. I have Underwoods and Skogstadts letters and a memorial card from Carl Buckers Funeral, and an original Bucker Triangle plate, undrllied so never fitted.That is about all, except for super memories.Another wierd thing was I went to the same Public School as James Gilbert, who owned GAYSJ, and Edited Pilot Magasine. He has recently died,but I got on well with him. Do you want any photos of XNI and XIH?
Wow.
Having subscribed to Pilot magazine since I was a lad of 12 at grammar school in Salisbury, I always felt a connection to James. I was very sad to learn of his passing, as was my friend Rob Dorsey, former CFI of SportAir at Biggen, who lives close to me in Ohio. We reminisce about the golden years of the magazine, sadly now behind it, on frequent occasions.
I would love to see those pictures.
Hello again Steve, Yes, well these things happen, and Mates of mine still intact say we are in the WAITING ROOM stage!!!!!! I remember Biggin Hill very well. I knew Cobby Moore and Sue Saggers and Ian Dalziel (The Doc who flew Mann's Aircraft), and the Mad Bend'em no Brains-Brendan O'Brien, etc etc. My signature should be on the Swordfish Bar FAA Photos, if they are still there at KingAir Flying Club I think?
If we had known that 1001 was one of the only Rangsdorf ones left we would never have let it go!! You have Papana's Aircraft in the US. Are there any more German Built examples? What happened to the Franklin Engined ones? We tried to make a Formation team called "Grun Hertz", Steiglitz (Vima GBAAY), Bu133(GAXIH), Bu131(GBUCK), in 82 but I had left the RN and was flying Nigerian Chiefs in HS125s, so had to call it a day. My last display in a Jungmeister was Biggin Hill Air Fair in 81, and a few in Spencer Flacks red Sea Fury, until the Boss upended it in the mud at Stapleford.
Stefan Korwalski overspeeded the Engine at Waddington several weeks later, having rebuilt the Prop, and Spencer had the crash in the potato fields on the forced landing following the seizure. I had rebuilt that very Centaurus with the RTO from Rolls Royce Heritage Engines Filton, and had to go to the CAA Tribunal. Stefan then killed himself in a Pitts in Australia in front of the owner. Spencer Flack also owned GAXMT for a time,and then another ex FAA , Dave Berry .I will email photos tomorrow, together with copies of the letters from John Underwood and Paul Skogstadt. Kind Regards Mike
I suppose both John Underwood and Paul Skogstadt are no longer with us,or have they survived to a ripe old age? I have tried to find the Funeral Memorial Card for Carl Bucker, so that you would have a copy of it. No luck so far, but I know I have seen it in the last few years. When Neil Williams was alive, he flew a Bucker 131 Jungmann. After he was killed in 78, Tony Bianchi modified it, with a kit from Switzerland for a 180 Lycoming. It had horrible square Piper Cub cowlings, but flew very well. I cant remember the reg, as I did not have the opportunity to have a go in it.
It was kept at Booker and painted a horrible light blue. Thats all I remember ,but the new owner wanted to replicate HB UTH, which I flew 3 times at Grenchen. I never found out what happened to that, and I dont think I ever saw it displayed. He had tried to buy the Swiss aircraft, but some Aerobatic student had torn the U/C off it, which happened to it quite often.
Roersch also had a Black Jungmann with a 180, but that too had broken U/C when I went to see him. I cant remember the registrations of that either!!?? Never mind.Hope you enjoy the pix.Best Wishes Mike.
Wow. I didn’t know Neil’s Jungmann had been Lycoming-ised. Adding the more modern engine certainly makes the aircraft easy to operate, but they just don’t fly the same and convenience or not, I hate the “dog kennel” cowling on the front of the aircraft.
Owners in this country seem to suffer a love/hate relationship with the old Tigre. Some people seem to just add petrol and fly, whereas as others seem to have nothing but the worst possible luck.
Personally I rather like the Spanish engine, but you do need to think carefully about it. It seems that almost every week I hear from someone who has just installed a “brand new” something or other in their engine. In fact, it was “brand new” in 1940 or something, and a very thorough inspection is appropriate before using it sixty years on!
I would love to have a go in a Bucker again,but the time I nearly did Stephen Grey did not want me anywhere near his aeroplane,although Nick,his son,got several Brand New Stainless Steel Ring manifolds from me at cost!!!I was well pissed off .I had an arrangement with HARRY TANDEFELDT of Hammeelina,Finland,who produced a batch every few years and put 3 or 4 aside for me for UK users.I think he must be dead now.
I recently put some old videos onto DVD with an Ex Navy mates help, so cheap. I was given years ago a compilation of the BBC's Broadcast of the 1980/81 Air Fair. It was presented by Raymond Baxter, who has just died, and shows dislpays by Pilots , now dead.There is a good interview with Spencer Flack and also Ray Hanna.
It was also my last Jungmeister Display, and I actually get a few minutes in it. I am also flying a Piston Provost over the top of Ray Hanna's interview, although you cant see it, you can hear the unmistakeable throb of an Alvis Leonides Engine. I now have an excellent DVD copy, so DO YOU WANT THE ORIGINAL VIDEO??? If so I will send it to you. There will be Biggin Hill names you will recognise no doubt,because Phillip Mann 's Collection was premiered before he sold it, and so Dave Perrin is in it , before he was killed(Perrin was the ONLY civilian Pilot to be chosen for Rothmans Pitts Team; Brian Lecomber followed but years later.
If you want it ,please reply so I can send it asap. There is some good stuff,p articularly from the late Stefan Kowalski,in a Bearcat that he had only flown for 30 mins the day before, and Ray Hanna in Spencer Flacks Mk14 Spit, which he flew for the first time that morning. Great fun to watch ,if you want it-If you copy it onto DVD, loads of enthusiasts will want to see it ,but the BBC here forbid me to do the same.You will be Exempt in the US??!! Best wishes Mike Stow.
That tape sounds wonderful, but there may be a technical issue. I don’t think VHS tapes recorded in the UK will play here because the TV standard is different. I do have some contact s in the TV business though, let me see if they could convert it for me and I’ll let you know as soon as I can.
So many familiar names. Although I have never had the pleasure, I have often seen Mike Dale’s P. Provost. I let him fly my Zlin so I think it’s about time he reciprocated :-) - Then again, he has more money in that a/c than I will earn in a lifetime.
I’m sorry to hear Raymond Baxter died. Another character who it seems I knew of for ever.
As I was re-reading your emails, they brought to mind the time when in about 1970 I drove to a model aeroplane rally at Sywell (I think). During the afternoon, a “real” plane display was put on. A Pitts special tore up the sky for a while but then in complete contrast, seeming to me to be in slow motion, a Jungmeister performed an immaculate display I can still clearly remember.
That display has cost me a lot of money over the years, so strong an impression did it make.
Steve
Hi Steve, Yes the Tape will be PAL, not NTSC. In the early 70s at Sywell, was the Barnstormers Shows known as Expo. It was the first Air Display of the year in the Calendar, in March some time. The model flying was run by Mike Parker and David Boddington, who did the BoB Film Models.
The Jungmeister you saw could have been Roy Legg in the colours that We originally bought it in 78, or if it was Yellow, then it could have been me!!! I used to fly the Barnstormer Shows in my Jungmeister unless it clashed with Roy Legg, then I flew Stampe GAYSJ, which Manx Kelly had as a Rothmans spare when they went to Pitts in 72.
Mike Coburn crashed my aeroplane in 1970, but we had it going again in 72 .in the Book "The World of Aviation", by Chris Ellis(Hamlyn Books) Page 127 is me in GAXNI at the Sywell Expo in 75. Thats when Skogstadt and Underwood came up to see me .See what you can do in copying the Tape, OR My Mate can copy the DVD cheaply,so I can organise that,if you cant.It last for well over 60 mins,so is definitely worth watching!!!!Regards Mike
Hello again Steve,well your Biggin Hill Air Fair Video and DVD is on its way to you. I have found a photo of the "Grun Hertz" Formation team on the ground at White Waltham, so I enclose one of that, showing the Viima GBAAY, dressed as a FW44 Steiglitz. I only flew with these for a year, since I had my first job as a commercial Pilot in Nigeria on HS125s, so I was very limited with time.
I hope these ones come out OK? If not, let me know, so I can make a better job of it, or maybe scan them. Finally I attach an Oil Painting by Tony Harold. He was arts Director of the RAF Museum @ Hendon, and frequent exhibitor at the Guild of Aviation Artists, also Barnstormer Pilot on Tigers , Girl on the Wing etc. He was unfortunately killed in 1990 , flying a Nieuport 15 at North Weald, but if you remember Leisure Sport WW1 Replicas,he flew the Fokker D7 and Spad for several years in the late 70s. Anyway it is a super painting. which I keep as a screen saver. Enjoy!!Regards Mike
like the photo of GAXIH that that have put on the website. That was in the colours that poor Roy Legg had it, before we had it sprayed at LHR Heathrow. One thing you may be able to help on? <SNIP> I would look at the threads to see what problems people have had, running their Buckers?????!! I think Peter Sheppard and myself ran them for over 10years, with only Magneto problems, (apart from nonexistant brakes!!!!)- Those were Scintilla mags which were dreadful, and Tony Bianchi of Personal Plane Services sorted it out with Bosch replacements. I think these are now virtually unobtainable now. Anyway,it would be nice to get involved with any discussions!!
Let me know what you think of those old Biggin Displays. There are very few participants still going now!! Even Ray Hanna died a year or so ago ,a few days after leading a 4 ship formation in his P40. Jeff Hawke in the B25, long gone lost at sea in suspicious circumstances in a light twin. I cant remember if Don Bullock is in the film in the A26, or had he crashed it already. Poor Ted White and the rest of the old Sally B Euroworld lot spun in in Malta with Ex Portugese Harvards on a Rally. I flew those back from Alverca with several other intrepids in the late 70s.
I must tell you about the Lightning Pilot. I first met him at Binbrook at an Air Show there in 1978. His name was John Clift. I went to the trouble of getting him into all sorts of Naval Aircraft, so that he could repay me with a 1000mph trip in a Lightning T4.
At that time Boscombe Down B Flight was trying to restore a proper 2 Seat Trainer (With all the Controls) Sea Fury-part of the ETPS Course was Torque Rolling, which had been only a blackboard exercise, with a T20 Sea Fury they could experience the terror for real!! Anyway I used to take a Devon up there with my crew chief, and help them with the control runs etc, since we had the ONLY complete one WG655-later destroyed,alas.!!!!
I arranged that John would bring the Sqn T4 up to Boscombe Down to meet me for the Mach one (neck)tie trip.I had never been able to achieve this in a Brit Service Aircraft, except at full bore in a dive, but to get the Tie you had to achieve it in a straight line!!! We duly briefed etc, and climbed aboard. Having started the top engine first, you have to increase the power to 60% to get all the hydraulics/electrics on line, and then start the bottom one.
After all the preparation to get this organised, you can imagine what happened next. We got a FIRE warning, and had to abort the trip. John was very good about it, and said"No Probs, we can do it again later". Of course this never happened again, and the Boscombe Boss ( AC Cairns-now AVM Sir) spread the poor aircraft across the runway on ground looping it, only a few sorties after it had been completed, and destroyed it. Thus,I was never required to go to Boscombe again, after the Sea Fury's demise!!. One of my biggest regrets was never to have the grin on my face, from a Lightning flight. I am still looking for the Bucker Funeral Card. John Underwood sent it to me,with a letter giving more information on the Bucker 133s at the 1936 Berlin Olympics Aerobatics Contest.Regards Mike