Beagle developed the two/three-seat B.125 Bulldog military primary
trainer from the B.121 Pup and flew the first (Series 1, G-AXEH, c/n
001) of two prototypes on May 19, 1969. A few weeks later the Royal
Swedish AF ordered 58 examples to be delivered from August 1970.
However, on February 27, 1970 Beagle went into voluntary liquidation
and the Bulldog production contracts were taken over by Scottish Aviation.
The Bulldog differed from the Pup substantially and had a
fully-transparent aft-sliding jettisonable canopy replacing the side
doors. The powerful 200 hp four-cylinder engine and strengthened
construction allowed full aerobatics. Further the type had increased
wing span, trimmable rudder and elevators, increased fuel capacity
and larger wheels. The pilot and trainee sat side-by-side with dual
controls, with space at the rear for an observer's seat.
The Bulldog had provision for the installation of four underwing
hard-points to which 0.3 in (7.62 mm) machine guns, unguided or
wire-guided air-to-surface projectiles, grenade launchers, bombs up
to 110 lb (50 kg) or supply containers up to 640 lb (290 kg) could be fitted.
Scottish Aviation finished the second prototype (G-AXIG, c/n 002),
which flew for the first time on February 14, 1971. From then known as
the Bulldog Series 100. The first production Bulldog flew June 22,
1971 and 98 were delivered to Sweden, Malaysia and Kenya.
The Series 120 was the following production model and differed in
having increased fully-aerobatic weight and a deepened
instrumentation panel. Of the Series 120 a 220 examples were
delivered to the military forces of seven countries.
From the Bulldog 120 a four-seat sports and touring aircraft was
developed, intended for the civil market, known as the Bullfinch. The
prototype (G-BDOG c/n BH200-381) was flown for the first time by
Chief Test Pilot John Blair on August 20, 1976. The military version,
the Bulldog Series 200, was intended to complement the fixed-gear
Bulldog 120. Within a month after the maiden flight the first sale of
a single aircraft was announced, but the company was not successful
in finding further customers, either civil or military. In 1977
Scottish Aviation was taken up in British Aerospace and the Bullfinch
was subsequently cancelled.
Compared to the Bulldog Series 120 the Bullfinch was 1 ft 8 in (50.8
cm) longer, had a 9.3 in (24.6 cm) wider span, and a retractable
landing gear. The enlarged and redesigned cabin provided a full
four-seat accommodation and was fitted with dual controls. The
aircraft had full-aerobatic capabilities and was offered for the
military roles with the same underwing hard-points of the Bulldog
Series 120.