Scottish Aviation Bulldog T Mk 1

Scottish Aviation · United Kingdom · first flew 1973 · light aircraft

The Scottish Aviation Bulldog T Mk 1 was the standard RAF primary flying trainer from the mid-1970s until it was replaced by the Grob Tutor T Mk 1 at the turn of the millennium, equipping University Air Squadrons and Air Experience Flights across the United Kingdom. It offered a capable, aerobatic-capable platform for introducing student pilots to military flying.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — WingsLow-mounted, tapered
E — Engines1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage7.09 m fuselage
T — TailConventional

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Spot it by:

Low-wing two-seat trainer with a generously sized bubble canopy affording excellent visibility, fixed tricycle undercarriage, and a compact Lycoming engine behind a short rounded cowling — familiar to generations of British student pilots.

Specifications

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

The RAF ordered 130 Bulldog T Mk 1s to replace the ageing Chipmunk T Mk 10 in the University Air Squadron and Air Experience Flight roles, with deliveries completing by the late 1970s. The type served until 2000–2001 when the Grob 115E Tutor took over; many ex-RAF Bulldogs subsequently entered the civil market.

Variants

The T Mk 1 is the RAF-specific variant of the Bulldog Model 120 series; it differs from export variants primarily in military avionics and RAF-specific equipment.

Where you'll see it

Operated by the Royal Air Force from 1973 to approximately 2001 with University Air Squadrons and Air Experience Flights across the UK; numerous examples now fly with private owners and flying clubs.

Related aircraft

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