Bü 180 Student

The Bü 180 Student was a German two‑seat trainer built by Bücker Flugzeugbau in the late 1930s. Designed as a modern replacement for the popular Bü 131 Jungmann, the Student first flew in 1937 and entered limited production before the outbreak of World War II halted civilian orders. It featured a low‑wing, all‑metal construction with a fabric‑covered fuselage, and was powered by a 105 hp Hirth HM 504A‑2 inverted‑inline engine that gave a cruising speed of about 190 km/h. The cockpit accommodated a student pilot and an instructor side‑by‑side, providing excellent visibility and a forgiving handling envelope ideal for primary flight training. Although only a few dozen units were built, the Bü 180 introduced several aerodynamic refinements, such as a tapered wing and improved aileron design, that influenced later Bücker models like the Bü 133 Jungmeister. After the war, surviving Students were used by flying clubs in West Germany and became prized examples of pre‑war German light‑sport design. Today the aircraft is remembered for bridging the gap between the classic biplane trainers and the more streamlined monoplanes that dominated post‑war aviation training curricula.