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 featured an enlarged, fully transparent sliding canopy and an increased wingspan when compared with the Beagle Pup. 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.
In spite of this successful flight, and a full order book, just a few short months later Beagle Aircraft Limited collapsed and the company went into liquidation on 27th February 1970. This did not however mean the end of the Bulldog, as the design authority for the type was transferred to Scottish Aviation, whose first example of the Beagle, (G-AXIG), flew on 14th February 1971. Orders for the Bulldog which had been received by Beagle Aircraft prior to the company’s collapse, including a number from Sweden, were subsequently fulfilled by Scottish Aviation who began production of the aircraft at their Prestwick site.
The Scottish Aviation Bulldog was reasonably successful in the export market, including sales of 78 aircraft to the Swedish Air Force. In the UK, the RAF purchased 130 aircraft for use as the Scottish Aviation Bulldog T Mk 1 Basic Trainer. 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. An ideal aircraft for the novice pilot, with its good aerobatic performance, excellent handling qualities and good all-round view from the cockpit, the aircraft has enjoyed a new lease of life in the civilian market, and many continue to fly today.
A total of two prototypes, 320 production aircraft and a single Bulldog 200 / Bullfinch were built.
Excerpt from company product film 'Bulldog', focussing on the Bulldog aircraft and its production at Prestwick, produced by the British Aerospace Weybridge Film Unit, c. 1980.
