Country of origin:

United Kingdom

Description:

Two-seat military ab-initio trainer

Power Plant:

(Bulldog 120)

One 149 kw (200 hp) Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine

Specifications:

History:

Following the demise of the Beagle company in 1970 when it was heading towards putting the Bulldog into production as a trainer for the RAF, Scottish Aviation at Prestwick, Scotland, took over the development of the type, there being orders for 256 Bulldogs extant at the time, which included some 132 for the RAF and examples for Sweden.  Early testing proceeded with the 1969 Beagle-built prototype B.125 Series I (G-AXEH) but, following further development, a Scottish Aviation pre-production prototype Bulldog (G-AXIG) was flown in 1971.  Swedish and RAF requirements were for +6/-3 G, an aerobatic weight of 975 kg (2,150 lb), a crew of two and 154 litres (34 Imp gals) of fuel for a typical training mission.

Production commenced and 78 Model 101s were delivered to Sweden by the beginning of 1973, and other exports included 15 Model 102s for Malaysia and five Model 103s for Kenya.  The 101st aircraft built was the first T Mk I for the RAF and this model became known as the Series 120.  These aircraft had some strengthening to increase aerobatic weight to 1,015 kg (2,238 lb) and some other modifications.  Further orders were received for the Ghana Air Force for 20 Model 122s and 20 Model 123s were supplied to the Nigerian Air Force.

The first RAF machine, a T.1 (XX513), first flew on 29 January 1972.  The first University Air Squadron to receive the type was the London University Air Squadron at RAF Abingdon in October 1973, followed by Southampton, Hamble, Glasgow etc.  The RAF machines were used mainly by the 16 University Air Squadrons and replaced de Havilland DHC-1 Chipmunks at the Helicopter Training School at Church Fenton. Others went to No 1 Squadron CFS at Little Rissington.  The RAF received its complement of Bulldogs between 1973 and 1976.  Further orders were received from Jordan (22), Lebanon (6), Kenya (9), Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force (2), Botswana (6) and a private owner in Venezuela.

A development of the type was the Bulldog 200 for military service, and the similar Bullfinch for civil operators, this new model being announced at Farnborough in 1974.  It was based on the Bulldog 120 airframe but differed primarily in having a retractable undercarriage, an enlarged cabin providing seating for four, and the fuselage lengthened by 50.8 cm (20 in).  Fully aerobatic, it was offered as a sport and touring aircraft or as a primary trainer and multi-role light aircraft, with the option of underwing stores.  One prototype was completed (G-BDOG) but this model did not enter production.  A total of 329 Bulldogs of all models was completed.  After retirement from Hong Kong service many of that service’s aircraft were returned to the United Kingdom where 17 were placed on the British Civil Register.

In 2000 the Bulldog was retired by the RAF, many aircraft being placed in storage at RAF Shawbury and RAF Newton, being replaced by the German designed Grob G-115.  Many were sold to the civil market to be operated as warbirds, some going to the United States.  A number of operators in the Pacific region indicated they wished to import examples to this region but none arrived due to the amount of work required on the aircraft to bring them up to civilian standards.

Eventually a Series 120 Model 121 ZK-WUF (c/n BH120/315 – ex XX657) arrived in Auckland in May 2002 and was registered on 27 April 2004.  This aircraft had operated with the Cambridge University Air Squadron of the RAF until retired in July 2000.  It was for a time based at Hawkes Bay, later being based at Hastings where it was used for training air cadets, and in 2016 moved to a new owner in Auckland.

It was followed in Australia in August 2008 by a Series 101 VH-CHU (c/n 110 – ex N747BD, SE-LLG, Fv61010 [Swedish Air Force], G-AZAO) in Western Australia in Swedish Air Force markings.  Another example arrived in Australia in mid-2012, this being an ex-RAF machine which became VH-XVE (c/n BH120/348 – ex G-CBCV, XX699) on 29 November 2012 at Angle Vale, SA. However, in May 2020 it was removed from the register and exported to the United Kingdom.

In mid-2014 a number of aircraft from the fleet of Bulldogs which once formed the training arm of the Nigerian Air Force arrived at Palmerston North in New Zealand, comprising 22 sets of wings and a number of fuselages.  All were in poor condition and it may be they will be rebuilt for civil owners in due course or used as spares.