Uploaded September 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Scottish Aviation Bulldog T.1, XX621, G-CBEF, leaving Old Warden Airfield following the Shuttleworth Family Airshow 2024.
The Original B.125 Bulldog was developed by Beagle Aircraft, Shoreham as
a more powerful military trainer version of their Beagle B.121 Pup. It was fully aerobatic and features an enlarged, fully-transparent sliding canopy and an increased wingspan when compared with the Beagle Pup. It is fitted with a 200 hp Lycoming engine driving a two-blade variable pitch propeller.
The first prototype Bulldog (G-AXEH) flew at Beagle's south-coast factory on 19th May 1969.
Unfortunately, later that same year saw the failure of Beagle Aircraft Limited, following the withdrawal of government financial support and despite a full order book.
Design authority for the type had been transferred to Scottish Aviation, whose first example of the Beagle (G-AXIG) flew on 14th February 1971, this aircraft having been initially registered by Beagle as their second B.125.
Before their demise, Beagle Aircraft had received an order from Sweden and this was subsequently fulfilled by Scottish Aviation Limited, who subsequently continued production at Prestwick.
Both of the initial aircraft (G-AXEH and G-AXIG) were used as company demonstrators by Scottish Aviation, with one (G-AXIG) painted in Swedish Air force colours as ‘005’. This aircraft, which was originally flown on 14th February 1971, was subsequently sold on the civil market and for a number of years operated out of Compton Abbas Airfield in Wiltshire.
The Scottish Aviation Bulldog was reasonably successful in the export market with sales of 78 aircraft to the Swedish Air Force, as well as several mainly African nations. In the UK, the RAF purchased 130 aircraft for use as the Scottish Aviation Bulldog T Mk.1 Basic Trainer.
One aircraft (G-BDOG) was fitted with a retractable undercarriage and displayed at Farnborough Air Show in 1976, bearing the type name ‘Bullfinch’. This version did not actually enter production however and is currently registered as a Bulldog 200.
In addition to Sweden, export customers also included Botswana, Ghana, Hong Kong, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, and Nigeria.
Following the withdrawal of the type from its RAF Basic Training, University Air Squadron and Air Experience roles in 2001, 'civilianised' Bulldogs became popular in private and flying club ownership. It was an ideal aircraft for the novice pilots as the type offered good aerobatic performance, excellent handling qualities and good all-round view from the cockpit.
In October 2018, some 55 examples appeared on the British Civil Aircraft Register, several of which are operated in their original RAF or export colour schemes.
A total of two prototypes, 320 production aircraft and a single Bulldog 200 / Bullfinch were built.
This Video and Audio content is
Copyright © 2024 StephenKeeler (HightFlight/SkyHighFlightTV) All Rights Reserved
Scottish Aviation Bulldog T.1, XX621, G-CBEF, leaving Old Warden Airfield following the Shuttleworth Family Airshow 2024.
The Original B.125 Bulldog was developed by Beagle Aircraft, Shoreham as
a more powerful military trainer version of their Beagle B.121 Pup. It was fully aerobatic and features an enlarged, fully-transparent sliding canopy and an increased wingspan when compared with the Beagle Pup. It is fitted with a 200 hp Lycoming engine driving a two-blade variable pitch propeller.
The first prototype Bulldog (G-AXEH) flew at Beagle's south-coast factory on 19th May 1969.
Unfortunately, later that same year saw the failure of Beagle Aircraft Limited, following the withdrawal of government financial support and despite a full order book.
Design authority for the type had been transferred to Scottish Aviation, whose first example of the Beagle (G-AXIG) flew on 14th February 1971, this aircraft having been initially registered by Beagle as their second B.125.
Before their demise, Beagle Aircraft had received an order from Sweden and this was subsequently fulfilled by Scottish Aviation Limited, who subsequently continued production at Prestwick.
Both of the initial aircraft (G-AXEH and G-AXIG) were used as company demonstrators by Scottish Aviation, with one (G-AXIG) painted in Swedish Air force colours as ‘005’. This aircraft, which was originally flown on 14th February 1971, was subsequently sold on the civil market and for a number of years operated out of Compton Abbas Airfield in Wiltshire.
The Scottish Aviation Bulldog was reasonably successful in the export market with sales of 78 aircraft to the Swedish Air Force, as well as several mainly African nations. In the UK, the RAF purchased 130 aircraft for use as the Scottish Aviation Bulldog T Mk.1 Basic Trainer.
One aircraft (G-BDOG) was fitted with a retractable undercarriage and displayed at Farnborough Air Show in 1976, bearing the type name ‘Bullfinch’. This version did not actually enter production however and is currently registered as a Bulldog 200.
In addition to Sweden, export customers also included Botswana, Ghana, Hong Kong, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, and Nigeria.
Following the withdrawal of the type from its RAF Basic Training, University Air Squadron and Air Experience roles in 2001, 'civilianised' Bulldogs became popular in private and flying club ownership. It was an ideal aircraft for the novice pilots as the type offered good aerobatic performance, excellent handling qualities and good all-round view from the cockpit.
In October 2018, some 55 examples appeared on the British Civil Aircraft Register, several of which are operated in their original RAF or export colour schemes.
A total of two prototypes, 320 production aircraft and a single Bulldog 200 / Bullfinch were built.
This Video and Audio content is
Copyright © 2024 StephenKeeler (HightFlight/SkyHighFlightTV) All Rights Reserved
