TheScottish Aviation Bulldog is a British two-seat side-by-side (with optional third seat)training aircraft designed byBeagle Aircraft as theB.125 Bulldog.
The prototype Bulldog flew on 19 May 1969 atShoreham 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 byScottish Aviation (Bulldog) Limited. All subsequent aircraft were built atPrestwick Airport by Scottish Aviation, and later byBritish Aerospace.
The first 58 aircraft (known as theSK 61A andSK 61B) were delivered to theSwedish Air Force in 1971. Twenty more aircraft were delivered to theSwedish Army asFPL 61C in 1972, although these were transferred to the Air Force in 1989 asSK 61C. By 2001 all the Swedish aircraft had been withdrawn from military service. 26 were bought in 2004 by theHungarian company AVIA-Rent.
Manchester University Air Squadron Bulldog atRAF Woodvale in 1983
The largest customer was theRoyal Air Force, which placed an order for 130 Bulldogs in 1972, entering service as theBulldog T.1 in 1975. It was used by the Royal Air Force as a basic trainer, in particular as the standard aircraft of theUniversity Air Squadrons and, later,Air Experience Flights, providing flying training. The aircraft was also used by the Royal Navy for Elementary Flying Training (EFT) atRAF Topcliffe.
The RAF sold off its remaining Bulldog trainers in 2001 asgeneral aviation light aircraft for a low price. They were replaced by theGrob Tutor.
Privately owned Scottish Aviation Bulldog Series 120, formerly of theBotswana Air Force and in their colours, at an English air rally in 2005FormerRoyal Jordanian Air Force Bulldog now operated by the British Disabled Flying Association (now trading as Aerobility) on display atFarnborough Airshow 2008Bulldog of theMaltese Air Wing in 2003
g limits:+6g-3g, with no longer than 15 seconds sustained inverted flight.
Rate of climb: 1,034 ft/min (5.25 m/s)
Wing loading: 18.2 lb/sq ft (89 kg/m2)
Armament
All armament is optional. The Bulldog was designed so that it could be fitted with four hard points. These armaments were tested on company demonstrator aircraftG-ASAL. They 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 production weapons launch control systems in the Bulldog.[11]
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