The famous Mira Slovak, known as the conqueror of the North Atlantic when he crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 1968 in his Fournier RF4D motor glider (RF= Rene Fournier) said that of all aircraft ever built, the Bücker Jungmann and the Fournier RF4D are the best. He has possessed both. Therefore I am a little bit jealous because I cannot deny the charm of the aesthetic Bücker biplanes, whether it is the Bücker Jungmann, or the "unreachable" Jungmeister.
Mira Slovak's Bücker Jungmann, and the Fournier RF4D with maps of his trans-Atlantic flights.
From the early beginning of my flying career, the RF4D has always been the plane I was dreaming of. But why? Was it the aesthetics of the RF planes or was it because of the stories about Michael Schultz with the D-KIRE in his book "Erkenntnisse zwischen Himmel und Erde” (Realizations between sky and earth) "?
I do not remember exactly, I always wanted to have one - just a dream. After having possessed two Fournier RF3, my dream finally came true in December 2003 when I bought the Fournier RF4D.
Andy and his RF4D
I bought D-KAQI from a nice guy named Jochen Otte based at Bohlhof airfield in the south of Germany. With my RF 4 I flew for more than 600 "fantastic" hours since then - without any technical problems. Numerous flights took me to the German, Austrian and Swiss Alps. Unforgettable flights to the North Sea or the Baltic Sea, the CFI - meeting (www.cfi-ev.scram.de) in 2009 in Arnbruck (EDNB) with flights into the Czech Republic. After I had built an open canopy for it, flying has become marvellous in the warm weather of the German summer.
However, after a few years with my RF4, a new dream appeared: Open cockpit planes, antique and beautiful to fly - came to my mind. The fantastic Bücker Jungmann became the object of desire. First I collected literature, searched pictures on the web, studied sales ads, got quotations for insurance packages etc. I went to Bücker gatherings at Degerfeld (EDSA) where in the 70-ties the famous Bücker fly-ins took place, went to Grenchen (LSZG) in Switzerland, attended the 2009 aniversary gathering of 75 years Bücker history in Wels Austria. My personal highlight was the first coflight in a new Polish Jungmann with Gerhard Welte in Illertissen (EDMI) and a short type rating with the Lycoming powered Jungmann D-EFMH owned by Jürgen Hüfner at Degerfeld (previously owned by the German songwriter Reinhard Mey). However, I found out that owning a Bücker was not in the range of my budget – its just a dream.
Wels, Juli 2009: My RF
surrounded by many Bückers Bücker: just a dream
In January 2010 my wife and I spent a vacation in Namibia, Africa. While I was there I wanted to visit my friend Rainer at the Bitterwasser glider site (www.bitterwasser.com),a famous place to fly gliders in the warm African winter. So I went there to do some glider flying.
At one evening buffet, Rainer pointed to a guy at the table and said: "The guy next to you owns a Bücker … "! It was Dieter Fromme, a nice Swabian guy who owns a Bücker Jungmann based at Schwenningen airfield (EDTS) in Germany . It was a very nice evening and time passed quickly while we talked about RF`s and Bückers. The following day we exchanged addresses and promised to keep in touch and possibly do some flying together in the near future.
Right after we returned from Namibia, email traffic started between Dieter and I. We agreed to plan a trip to the Baltic Sea in the north of Germany. We invited Gerhard Welte and his wife Moni to come along with their Polish Jungmann and Hermann Diebold, who co-owns the beautiful Jungmann D-EGRM together with Dieter Fromme.
Hermann wanted to fly one Lycoming powered Jungmann from Degerfeld airfield, but both Jungmanns were grounded for repairs. So Hermann joined Dieter in their Jungmann to split cash on gas –which was quite expensive at 2,40 €/Liter.
We started out at different airfields and met after the first stop at Hassfurt (EDQT).The next part of the tour took us to Magdeburg (EDBM) into former East Germany and from there to our final destination Kyritz (EDBK), located West of Berlin. We flew in delta formation, Andreas with the RF took the lead, RM and WG followed as wingmen.
Meeting and first stop for gas at Hassfurth
From there we flew over the Thüringen forest where
landscape changed completely on the way to the north. The Bücker RM had radio
problems, so Gerhard in his Austrian registered OE-AWG did the radio calls for
all three planes for landings. A wire connector of the alternator was broken, an
easy thing to be fixed.
We arrived at Kyritz (EDBK) in the late afternoon after having crossed the River Elbe that flows northbound, then across the Elbe-Havel-Channel and across some new autobahns that were recently built in East Germany. We crossed the InterCityExpress railroad line where an ICE train headed its way into Berlin coming from Stendal. At Kyritz we were welcomed by the controller of the airfield, he was so happy to receive 2 Bückers and the RF.
Arriving in Kyritz
We arrived at Kyritz (EDBK) in the late afternoon after having crossed the River Elbe that flows northbound, then across the Elbe-Havel-Channel and across some new autobahns that were recently built in East Germany. We crossed the InterCityExpress railroad line where an ICE train headed its way into Berlin coming from Stendal. At Kyritz we were welcomed by the controller of the airfield, he was so happy to receive 2 Bückers and the RF.
Arriving in Kyritz
Kyritz turned out to be the perfect location for
our stopover. Excellent infrastructure, a nice restaurant at the airfield, a
complimentary car for us, hangar space for our planes and a romantic hotel on
the lake nearby, with a terrace built into the lake on wooden posts. We decided
to stay for two nights. A wonderful place!
The next morning, on Saturday, clear blue skies and warm weather welcomed us. After the first cup of coffee with a great view overlooking the lake we had a great breakfast there.
Breakfast overlooking the lake
Flight planning in the morning - and off we go!
The next morning, on Saturday, clear blue skies and warm weather welcomed us. After the first cup of coffee with a great view overlooking the lake we had a great breakfast there.
Breakfast overlooking the lake
Flight planning in the morning - and off we go!
We decided to fly northwest bound over the western
part of the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte” (Mecklenburg lake district) onto the
famous town of Schwerin with its water castle where we did a 360 circle in
formation to salute the castle and its ancient history. Then on to Wismar with its
impressive ship wharf. On the way we did a stop at Rerik-Zweedorf (EDCR) where
we wanted to rent bicycles to ride over to the coast. The bicycles were all
rented out so we took a taxi to get to the shore.
Schwerin Castle and Wismar ship Warrf
Schwerin Castle and Wismar ship Warrf
After taking a few photos on the beach we had
lunch at one of the fish restaurants where they serve wonderful fresh fish,
typically cooked to the style of the area. After lunch we headed back to Rerik
airfield to continue our trip on to the island Rügen.
Rerik boat landing and Rerik airfield
Rerik boat landing and Rerik airfield
At Rerik airport our planes were surrounded by
many spectators and the controller asked us to fly a low pass in formation
after our takeoff, which we did with great pleasure. From there we flew along
the Ostsee shore looking at wonderful coloured waters and the sun following us.
First to Warnemünde, then northbound towards Fischland and Darß. To the left in
the Baltic Sea we saw the Danish island Lolland at the horizon, on the right
the Saaler Bodden.
We flew all the way up to the famous lighthouse
"Darßer Ort". Andreas is familiar with the area because he had spent
some vacation time with his family there. The flight took us about one hour
along the wonderful coast of the Ostsee, over a birds preserve where swans and cranes meet in September to rest and feed on their way from
Sweden to the south, where they spend some months to escape from the icy northern
winter. From there we headed inland for a fuel stop at Barth airfield (EDBH) where
the first private plane had landed after the fall of the German wall.
Also the folks at Barth airfield were delighted to welcome two Bückers and the RF 4. From Barth we cruised into the early evening light over the wonderful lakes of Mecklenburg Vorpommern, a region with a lot of lakes surrounded by forests. All we met on the way was a swarm of seagulls heading against us. Exciting, because bird strike is always possible in this area, especially in late summer and fall.
Saaler Bodden Mecklenburg lakes
Also the folks at Barth airfield were delighted to welcome two Bückers and the RF 4. From Barth we cruised into the early evening light over the wonderful lakes of Mecklenburg Vorpommern, a region with a lot of lakes surrounded by forests. All we met on the way was a swarm of seagulls heading against us. Exciting, because bird strike is always possible in this area, especially in late summer and fall.
Saaler Bodden Mecklenburg lakes
We headed for the Lake of Müritz, the centre of
the lake district. It is the second largest lake in Germany after “our” Lake of
Constance in the south of Germany.
We called Kyritz for landing and offered a low pass in formation flight to thank Kyritz for its great hospitality. The controller jumped all over the place, while we flew by. Over the radio he whispered: marvellous, fantastic, beautiful. He was really excited. We said: Thanks Kyritz - we will come again! After stowing the planes away in the hangar and a quick shower we went for dinner at a beautiful place on lake shore where we had wonderful local food while watching the sunset.
Before dinner Andreas received a call from his wife telling him that a good friend had died in a glider accident in the afternoon. He was shocked and the rest of the group felt really bad for him and the family that had lost a loved one.Actually, we wanted to fly to Saint Peter-Ording (EDXO) the next day and back home on Monday. But after this sad message we decided to fly home on Sunday.
The next morning the sun was shining like the two days before. We headed to Jena for a first stop for gas on the way home. Hermann wanted to see more lakes, so we turned left and flew over the city of Brandenburg and along the river Havel to Potsdam to see the famous Prussian castle Sancoussi where the Prussian kings were buried since the fall of the Berlin wall.
Sancoussi castle Havel rive
We called Kyritz for landing and offered a low pass in formation flight to thank Kyritz for its great hospitality. The controller jumped all over the place, while we flew by. Over the radio he whispered: marvellous, fantastic, beautiful. He was really excited. We said: Thanks Kyritz - we will come again! After stowing the planes away in the hangar and a quick shower we went for dinner at a beautiful place on lake shore where we had wonderful local food while watching the sunset.
Before dinner Andreas received a call from his wife telling him that a good friend had died in a glider accident in the afternoon. He was shocked and the rest of the group felt really bad for him and the family that had lost a loved one.Actually, we wanted to fly to Saint Peter-Ording (EDXO) the next day and back home on Monday. But after this sad message we decided to fly home on Sunday.
The next morning the sun was shining like the two days before. We headed to Jena for a first stop for gas on the way home. Hermann wanted to see more lakes, so we turned left and flew over the city of Brandenburg and along the river Havel to Potsdam to see the famous Prussian castle Sancoussi where the Prussian kings were buried since the fall of the Berlin wall.
Sancoussi castle Havel rive
Two coffins of the late Prussian kings were
brought to Hohenzollern castle during WW II. In their testament it was written
that they wanted to be buried at Sansoussi castle in Potsdam, but this could only
happen after the fall of the iron curtain. Hohenzollern castle is near
Hechingen where Hermann lives, only 5 miles away from Degerfeld airfield where the
famous Bücker gatherings took place in the 80-ies. A video of Siggi Knoll doing
aerobatics over this castle in his Jungmann can be found on the Bücker website.
Hermann is planning a revival of these famous Bücker gathering at Degerfeld in 2011.
We will invite all Bücker enthusiasts to join us. Actually two German writers got
in touch with us, they are working on a new Bücker history book with more
content of the time after Königs`s book “Die Bückers” was written. We all hope
that these guys will receive a lot of input from Bücker onwners all over the
world.
On our way home we passed Lüsse (EDOJ) and Wittenberg where once Martin Luther announced his 95 theses. Southwest bound we crossed the huge open mining area of former East Germany on our way over big forest areas into Jena where we had lunch and fuelled up the planes. Our last lag was to the famous city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber (EDFR).
Weather was great and warm so we flew through some turbulences over the Thuringian forest. The RF4 was jumping up and down in thermical winds. Since the RF 4 profile is close to a glider profile, it did jump like a glider. The Bückers were more stable in these conditions. Every time Andreas knocked his had at the fibre glass hood he looked over jaleously to the open cockpit Bückers. He also suffered a lot because of the heat in his glass covered cockpit.
Past the city of Coburg with its impressive fortress above the city in the vicinity of the airfield we were now flying into the sunlight.
At Rothenburg it was time to say good bye to our fellow pilots. From there we all took different directions to our final destinations, but with the promise, to meet again soon.
Time to say goodbye in Rothenburg Flying over Hohenzollern castle before landing
On our way home we passed Lüsse (EDOJ) and Wittenberg where once Martin Luther announced his 95 theses. Southwest bound we crossed the huge open mining area of former East Germany on our way over big forest areas into Jena where we had lunch and fuelled up the planes. Our last lag was to the famous city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber (EDFR).
Weather was great and warm so we flew through some turbulences over the Thuringian forest. The RF4 was jumping up and down in thermical winds. Since the RF 4 profile is close to a glider profile, it did jump like a glider. The Bückers were more stable in these conditions. Every time Andreas knocked his had at the fibre glass hood he looked over jaleously to the open cockpit Bückers. He also suffered a lot because of the heat in his glass covered cockpit.
Past the city of Coburg with its impressive fortress above the city in the vicinity of the airfield we were now flying into the sunlight.
At Rothenburg it was time to say good bye to our fellow pilots. From there we all took different directions to our final destinations, but with the promise, to meet again soon.
Time to say goodbye in Rothenburg Flying over Hohenzollern castle before landing
These 3 days have been marvellous, our dream came
true to fly our aeroplanes all across Germany. It was a fantastic weekend, with
great experiences, in the air and on the ground. Since then we have done more
formation flying, Andy in his RF 4 as the leader, our Bücker Jungmeister following
him accompanied by 5 more Jungmanns at the Degerfeld air show end of August.
Fournier and Bücker have harmonizedperfectly! Oldies but Goodies – (not) just a dream.
Fournier and Bücker have harmonizedperfectly! Oldies but Goodies – (not) just a dream.