The Scottish Aviation Bulldog had its origins in the Beagle Aircraft Company as the B.125.
Unfortunately, before any production aircraft were built, Beagle Aircraft ceased trading and the production rights for the aircraft were passed to Scottish Aviation.
G-AXIG was the first Bulldog completed by Scottish Aviation at Prestwick. It is seen here flying in Swedish Air Force colours.
The Original B.125 Bulldog was developed by Beagle Aircraft, Shoreham as a more powerful military trainer version of their Beagle B.121 Pup. It was fully aerobatic and features an enlarged, fully-transparent sliding canopy and an increased wingspan when compared with the Beagle Pup. It is fitted with a 200 hp Lycoming engine driving a two-blade variable pitch propeller.
The first prototype Bulldog (G-AXEH) flew at Beagle's south-coast factory on 19th May 1969.
Unfortunately, later that same year saw the failure of Beagle Aircraft Limited, following the withdrawal of government financial support and despite a full order book.
Design authority for the type had been transferred to Scottish Aviation, whose first example of the Beagle (G-AXIG) flew on 14th February 1971, this aircraft having been initially registered by Beagle as their second B.125.
Before their demise, Beagle Aircraft had received an order from Sweden and this was subsequently fulfilled by Scottish Aviation Limited, who subsequently continued production at Prestwick.
An air-to-air photograph of XX513, the first Scottish Aviation Bulldog T.1 delivered to the Royal Air Force.
Both of the initial aircraft (G-AXEH and G-AXIG) were used as company demonstrators by Scottish Aviation, with one (G-AXIG) painted in Swedish Air force colours as ‘005’. This aircraft, which was originally flown on 14th February 1971, was subsequently sold on the civil market and for a number of years operated out of Compton Abbas Airfield in Wiltshire.
The Scottish Aviation Bulldog was reasonably successful in the export market with sales of 78 aircraft to the Swedish Air Force, as well as several mainly African nations. In the UK, the RAF purchased 130 aircraft for use as the Scottish Aviation Bulldog T Mk 1 Basic Trainer.
G-BHZP OD-3 was the single Scottish Aviation Bulldog delivered to the Botswana Defence Force.
One aircraft (G-BDOG) was fitted with a retractable undercarriage and displayed at Farnborough Air Show in 1976, bearing the type name ‘Bullfinch’. This version did not actually enter production however and is currently registered as a Bulldog 200.
G-BULL is a Bulldog 128 operating in the colours of the Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force.
In addition to Sweden, export customers also included Botswana, Ghana, Hong Kong, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, and Nigeria.
G-BDOG is the sole retractable undercarriage Scottish Aviation Bullfinch, or Bulldog 200, seen taking off from Cranfield.
Following the withdrawal of the type from its RAF Basic Training, University Air Squadron and Air Experience roles in 2001, 'civilianised' Bulldogs became popular in private and flying club ownership. It was an ideal aircraft for the novice pilots as the type offered good aerobatic performance, excellent handling qualities and good all-round view from the cockpit.
G-DISA is an ex-Jordanian Bulldog modified for the instruction of pilots with disabilities.
In October 2018, some 55 examples appeared on the British Civil Aircraft Register, several of which are operated in their original RAF or export colour schemes.
XX513, the first RAF Bulldog, is now registered G-KKKK and seen here at Old Warden in October 2018.
A total of two prototypes, 320 production aircraft and a single Bulldog 200 / Bullfinch were built.
Number built & Variants
|
Bulldog 100 / 101
78 Built
|
Designated Sk 61 by the Swedish Air Force |
|
Bulldog 100to R / 102
15 Built
|
Royal Malaysian Air Force |
|
Bulldog 100 / 103
5 Built
|
Kenya Air Force |
|
Bulldog 100 / 104
1 Refurbished
|
Second prototype (G-AXIG) delivered to private owner |
|
Bulldog 120 / 121
130 Built
|
T.Mk.1 aircraft to Royal Air Force, first example (XX513) |
|
Bulldog 120 / 122
6 Built
|
Ghana Air Force. |
|
Bulldog 120 / 122A
7 Built
|
Ghana Air Force. |
|
Bulldog 120 / 123
37 Built
|
Nigerian Air Force. |
|
Bulldog 120 / 124
1 Built
|
Company demonstrator (G-ASAL) |
|
Bulldog 120 / 125
13 Built
|
Royal Jordanian Air Academy, later transferred to the Jordanian Air Force. |
|
Bulldog 120 / 125A
9 Built
|
Jordanian Air Force. |
|
Bulldog 120 / 126
6 Built
|
Lebanese Air Force. |
|
Bulldog 120 / 127
9 Built
|
Kenya Air Force. |
|
Bulldog 120 / 128
2 Built
|
Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force. |
|
Bulldog 100 / 129
1 Built
|
Civil customer in Venezuela. |
|
Bulldog 120 / 1210
1 Built
|
Botswana Defence Force – originally designated Bulldog 130 |
|
B.125 Bulldog 200
1 Built
|
Improved version of Bulldog Series 120 with retractable landing gear. Marketed as Bullfinch (G-BDOG) |
| Total production | 323 aircraft inc. 2 prototypes, 1 Bullfinch and 320 production aircraft. |
Specification
| Powerplant | One 200 hp Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 engine |
| Span | 33 ft 1.85 in |
| Maximum Weight | 2,350 lb |
| Capacity | Instructor and student pilot. Provision for light underwing stores. |
| Maximum Speed | 150 mph |
| Cruise Speed | 120 – 140 mph |
| Maximum range | 621 miles (no reserves) |
Survivors
In addition to the aircraft that remain active on the UK and other civil registers, the following aircraft may be found on display at UK museums.
|
Bulldog 104
(G-AXIG)
|
National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland |
|
Bulldog T.1
(XX634)
|
Newark Air Museum, Nottinghamshire www.newarkairmuseum.org |
|
Bulldog T.1
(XX654)
|
Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, Shropshire www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford |
| Bulldog T.1 | 172 (Haywards Heath) Sqn ATC, Haywards Heath TA Centre, Sussex |
