Bristol Bulldog

The Bristol Bulldog was a single‑seat biplane fighter produced by the Bristol Aeroplane Company in the interwar period. First flying in 1927, the Bulldog entered service with the Royal Air Force in 1929 and quickly became the standard front‑line fighter for the United Kingdom and several Commonwealth air forces. Powered by a 450‑hp Bristol Jupiter radial engine, the aircraft featured a sturdy wooden frame, fabric‑covered wings and a compact fuselage that gave it excellent maneuverability and a top speed of roughly 185 mph. Its simple, robust design made it well suited to the harsh operating conditions of overseas squadrons, and its agile handling earned it a reputation as one of the finest dogfighters of its generation. Over 400 Bulldogs were built, and the type saw extensive use in the early stages of the Spanish Civil War, in Iraq, and in colonial policing actions. Although it was soon outclassed by newer monoplane fighters, the Bulldog left a lasting legacy by influencing the development of later Bristol designs such as the famous Blenheim bomber, and by providing a reliable training platform for pilots transitioning to more advanced aircraft.

Bristol Aeroplane Company

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