1000aircraftphotos.com

History Brief, by Johan Visschedijk

April 26, 2004

Scottish Aviation Bulldog


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.

Bulldog 102 Johan Visschedijk Collection
Bullfinch Johan Visschedijk Collection

Specifications (Bulldog Series 120)

Type:

Two/three-seat primary trainer

Engine:

One 200 hp Lycoming IO-360-A1B6 four-cylinder horizontally-opposed air-cooled engine

Span:

33 ft 0 in (10.06 m)

Length:

23 ft 3 in (7.09 m)

Height:

7 ft 5.75 in (2.28 m)

Wing area:

129.4 sq.ft (12.02 sq.m)

Empty Wt:

1,420 lb (644 kg)

Max T/O Wt:

2,350 lb (1,066 kg)

Max speed:

150 mph (241 km/h) at sea level

Max climb:

1,006 ft (307 m)/min

Ceiling:

17,000 ft (5,182 m)

Range:

621 mls (999 km)

Models

B.125 Bulldog:

Beagle Aircraft Ltd. prototype only

Bulldog 100:

second prototype, finished by Scottish Aviation

Bulldog 101:

58 as Sk 61 to Swedish AF, 20 as Fpl 61 to Swedish Army

Bulldog 102:

15 to Malaysian AF

Bulldog 103:

5 to Kanya AF

Bulldog 104:

refurbished second prototype, delivered to private owner

Bulldog 121:

130 as T.Mk.1 to Royal AF, 4 as T.Mk.1 to Malta AF

Bulldog 122:

6 to Ghana AF

Bulldog 122A:

7 to Ghana AF

Bulldog 123:

37 to Nigeria AF

Bulldog 124:

1 as company demonstrator (G-ASAL)

Bulldog 125:

13 to Jordanian Royal Academy of Aeronautics, transferred to AF

Bulldog 125A:

9 to Jordanian AF

Bulldog 126;

6 to Lebanese AF

Bulldog 127:

9 to Kenya AF

Bulldog 128:

2 to Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary AF

Bullfinch:

prototype only; improved version of Bulldog Series 120; retractable landing gear

Bulldog 200:

military version of Bullfinch, not produced