Scottish Aviation Bulldog


The Scottish Aviation Bulldog is a British two-seat side-by-side training aircraft designed by Beagle Aircraft as the B.125 Bulldog.
The prototype Bulldog 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 Limited. All subsequent aircraft were built at Prestwick Airport by Scottish Aviation, and later by British Aerospace.

Operational history

Sweden

The first 58 aircraft 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 By 2001 all the Swedish aircraft had been withdrawn from military service. 26 were bought in 2004 by the Hungarian company AVIA-Rent.

United Kingdom

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 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 aircraft was also used by the Royal Navy for Elementary Flying Training at RAF Topcliffe.
The RAF sold off its remaining Bulldog trainers in 2001 as general aviation light aircraft for a low price. They were replaced by the Grob Tutor.

Other operators

Of the Swedish aircraft, 26 were bought in 2004 by the Hungarian company AVIA-Rent. When the RAF aircraft were sold on the civilian market in the early 2000s, the type's excellent visibility, robustness and aerobatic capability meant that they were enthusiastically taken up.

Variants

The following Bulldog models were produced:
;Bulldog Series 1: One prototype built by Beagle Aircraft, one built by Scottish Aviation; now in the collection of the National Museum of Flight at East Fortune, East Lothian.
;Bulldog Series 100
;Bulldog Series 200 : Four-seat variant with retractable undercarriage. One prototype built. Also known as the Bullfinch in civilian guise.

Operators

Military operators

Former military operators

;United Kingdom