Bulldog
Scottish Aviation Bulldog, Swedish Army designation FPL 61C
Role	Basic trainer
Manufacturer	Beagle Aircraft/Scottish Aviation
Designed by	Beagle Aircraft
First flight	19 May 1969
Primary users	Royal Air Force Swedish Air Force
Number built	320
Developed from	Beagle Pup

The Bulldog is a British two-seat side-by-side (with optional third seat) training aircraft designed by Beagle Aircraft as the B.125 Bulldog.

The prototype Bulldog first flew on 19 May 1969 at Shoreham Airport. The first order for the type was for 78 from the Swedish Air Board. Before any production aircraft were built, Beagle Aircraft ceased trading and the production rights for the aircraft, with the Swedish order, were taken over by Scottish Aviation (Bulldog) Limited. All subsequent aircraft were built at Prestwick Airport by Scottish Aviation, or in later years, British Aerospace.

[edit] Operational history

[edit] Sweden

The first 58 aircraft (known as the SK 61A and SK 61B) were delivered to the Swedish Air Force in 1971. Twenty more aircraft were delivered to the Swedish Army as FPL 61C in 1972, although these were transferred to the Air Force in 1989 as SK 61C. By 2001 all the Swedish aircraft had been withdrawn from military service. 26 were bought in 2004 by the Hungarian company AVIA-Rent.

[edit] United Kingdom

Scottish Aviation Bulldog T1 G-BZMD at the Royal International Air Tattoo in 2006

The largest customer was the Royal Air Force, which placed an order for 130 Bulldogs in 1972, entering service as the Bulldog T.1. It was used extensively by the Royal Air Force as a basic trainer, in particular as the standard aircraft of the University Air Squadrons and, later, Air Experience Flights, providing flying training.

The RAF sold off all its remaining Bulldog trainers in 2001 as general aviation light aircraft for a very low price.

[edit] Other operators

Of the Swedish aircraft, 26 were bought in 2004 by the Hungarian company AVIA-Rent. When the RAF aircraft were sold, the model's excellent visibility, robustness and aerobatic capability meant that they were enthusiastically taken up.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Variants

The following Bulldog models were produced:^{[1] [2]}

Bulldog Series 1

One prototype built by Beagle Aircraft (G-AXEH), one built by Scottish Aviation; now in the collection of the National Museum of Flight at East Fortune, East Lothian.

Bulldog Series 100

• Model 101: Export model for Sweden. Swedish military designation SK 61 (AF) or FPL 61 (Army). 78 built.
• Model 102: Export model for Malaysia. 15 built.
• Model 103: Export model for Kenya. Five built.
• Model 104: Refurbished second prototype (G-AXIG)
• Model 121: Two-seat primary trainer aircraft for the Royal Air Force. RAF designation Bulldog T.1. 130 built, five later transferred to the Armed Forces of Malta.
• Model 122: Export model for Ghana. Six built.
  • Model 122A: Export model for Ghana. Seven built.
• Model 123: Export model for Nigeria. 37 built.
• Model 124: Company demonstrator (G-ASAL).
• Model 125: Export model for Jordan. 13 built.
  • Model 125A: Export model for Royal Jordanian Air Force. Nine built.
• Model 126: Export model for Lebanon. Six built.
• Model 127: Export model for Kenya. Nine built.
• Model 128: Export model for Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force. Two built.
• Model 129: One aircraft for a civil customer in Venezuela (YV-375-CP).
• Model 130 : Export model for Botswana. Six built.

Bulldog Series 200 

Four-seat variant with retractable undercarriage. One prototype built (G-BDOG). Also known as the Bullfinch in civilian guise.

[edit] Operators

Privately-owned Scottish Aviation Bulldog Series 120, formerly of the Botswana Air Force and in their colours, at an English air rally in 2005.

Former Royal Jordanian Air Force Bulldog now operated by the British Disabled Flying Association on display at Farnborough Airshow 2008

[edit] Military operators

 Botswana

• Botswana Air Force

 Ghana

• Ghana Air Force

 Hong Kong

• Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force

 Jordan

• Royal Jordanian Air Force

 Kenya

• Kenya Air Force

 Lebanon

• Lebanese Air Force

 Malaysia

• Royal Malaysian Air Force

 Malta

• Armed Forces of Malta

 Nigeria

• Nigerian Air Force

 Sweden

• Swedish Air Force
• Swedish Army

 United Kingdom

• Royal Air Force

Operators of the Bulldog.

[edit] Specifications (Bulldog Series 120)

Data from Bulldog & Beagle Pup Club,^[3]British Aircraft Directory^[4]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2: student, instructor
• Length: 23 ft 3 in (7.08 m)
• Wingspan: 33 ft 2 in (10.11 m)
• Height: 8 ft 11½ in (2.73 m)
• Wing area: 129.45 ft² (12.00 m²)
• Empty weight: 1,430 lb (649 kg)
• Useful load: 920 lb (417 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 2,350 lb (1,066 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 opposed piston engine, 200 hp (149 kW)

Performance

• Never exceed speed: 169 knots (193 mph, 313 km/h)
• Maximum speed: 130 knots (148 mph, 240 km/h) at sea level
• Service ceiling: 17,000 ft (5,182 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,100 ft/min ()
• Wing loading: 18.2 lb/ft² (89 kg/m²)

Armament

Note: all armament is optional.

• 290 kg (640 lb) bomb load
• Wingtip mounted rockets

These armaments were never used in RAF service although some weapons training was done on the Bulldog trainers in Sweden. Although hardpoints are available, there is no provision for weapons launch control systems in the Bulldog.

[edit] See also

Comparable aircraft

• Aermacchi SF.260
• Cessna T-41
• Saab 91 Safir
• Utva 75
• Valmet L-70 Vinka
  

Related lists

• List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force
  

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Scottish Aviation Bulldog