The Bü 133 was slightly smaller, a single-seater, and more powerful, but otherwise largely identical to the Bü 131, from which 40% of the components were taken. The design was the work of Bücker’s chief designer Anders Johan Andersson. The first flight of the prototype Bü 133 V1 (D-EVEO), equipped with a Hirth HM 506 in-line engine, was made on August 21, 1935 by Bücker’s factory pilot Luise Hoffmann.

The aircraft was used by various air forces, primarily for aerobatic and air combat training. Thanks to its manoeuvrability and clean stall characteristics, it was also popular for a long time as a civilian competition aerobatic aircraft. Bücker’s chief pilot Arthur Benitz was the first to fly a Bü 133 over the Andes in a single-engine sports aircraft.

A total of around 280 Bü 133s were built, 52 of them under license at Dornier (in Altenrhein in Switzerland), a few of which are still registered in Germany today.